Trump: Syria Attack Crosses "Many Lines"

US President Donald Trump has described the chemical attack in Idlib province which killed dozens of civilians as an “affront to humanity”.

Speaking at a news conference, Trump told reporters that the atrocity: 

"Crossed a lot of lines for me, when you kill innocent children, innocent babies, little babies, with a chemical gas that is so lethal, that people were shocked to hear what gas it was.That crosses many, many lines, beyond the red line."

At least 86 people died in the attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun, including 30 children and 20 women, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In an interview with New York Times, the President criticised Russia and said he was:

"Very sad for Russia because they’re aligned ... Now this was done by - the information is, this was done by Syria purely. But anybody aligned with Syria - this is very disappointing."

Early US assessments showed the use of chlorine gas and traces of the nerve agent sarin in Tuesday's attack.

The World Health Organisation and Doctors Without Borders said victims of the attacks showed signs of nerve gas exposure, including suffocation, foaming at the mouth, convulsions and constricted pupils.

The Trump administration and other world leaders said the Syrian government was to blame, but Moscow, a key ally of Assad, said the assault was caused by a Syrian air strike that hit a rebel stockpile of chemical arms. 

US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned on Wednesday that US President's Trump administration will take action against chemical attacks in Syria - if the UN Security Council fails to act.

Haley - who said the attack bears "all the hallmarks" of President Bashar Assad's government - urged the council at an emergency meeting to immediately approve a resolution drafted by the US, Britain and France that condemns and threatens consequences for the use of chemical weapons. She said: 

"When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action ... For the sake of the victims, I hope the rest of the council is finally willing to do the same."