France has proof that the Syrian forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad carried out an attack using chemical weapons and is considering military action against the Assad regime, French President Emmanuel Macron stated Thursday. “Our teams have been working on this all week and we will need to take decisions in due course, when we judge it most useful and effective,” Macron told French broadcaster TF1. Macron told the broadcaster that France had obtained proof that the Assad regime had used chemical weapons in its attack on the city of Douma on April 7, including chlorine gas. More than 150 people were killed in the attack, including many women and children. Macron did not elaborate on the nature of the proof. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the attack included the use of the deadly sarin nerve agent. France is reportedly considering participating in the joint response of the US and the UK to the chemical attack. US President Donald Trump called Assad an "animal" who would pay "a big price" following the attack. On Wednesday, Trump warned that missiles "are coming" to Syria following a Russian threat to shoot down any US missile fired at the forces of its ally, Assad, as well as the platforms that fire the missiles. Trump tweeted: "Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!" On Thursday, Trump said that he had not committed to launching a strike on Syrian forces. "Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all! In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our 'Thank you America?'" he tweeted.
