As a private citizen and candidate, Donald Trump opposed U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

Since taking office, President Trump approved two military strikes in both Yemen and Iraq in the fight against  terror group Islamic State. The strikes reportedly killed dozens of civilians and remains under U.S. investigation. The latest strike came in the shape of a 59 tomahawk missile barrage against a military base in Syria. Trump claims the missile attack was in response to U.S. intelligence that alleges Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s air force unleashed a deadly nerve agent on a rebel-held town in Idlib province.

CGTN’s Nathan King discusses the shift on the attacks in Syria and Trump’s shifting Middle East policy.

For more on these strikes in the Middle East and the Trump administrations policy shifts:

• Ron Paul, host of the “Ron Paul Liberty Report,” and a former U.S. Presidential candidate. 

To further discuss the future of the Trump Administration’s policy in the Middle East:

• Majid Rafizadeh, political scientist and president of the International American Council.
• Matthew Schweitzer, editor of Post-War Watch and program assistant with Epic. 

 

For More: 

That number comes from @airwars. pic.twitter.com/KK7rFDoTwc

— Waqas Mirza (@waqasahmi) April 7, 2017

3) Reports that up to 12 aircraft were destroyed are significant. The primary cause of civilian deaths by Syrian regime remains airstrikes pic.twitter.com/gSVCsKwF6n

— Airwars (@airwars) April 7, 2017

"The Syrian government would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons."

US Defense Secretary bluntly threatens Assad regime on CW pic.twitter.com/HGXqSMMy2D

— Airwars (@airwars) April 10, 2017

GEN Votel: We have the capabilities we need for the isolation of #Raqqa #Syria

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 11, 2017

#SecDef : If #Syria uses chemical weapons, they are going to pay a very steep price @DeptofDefense

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 11, 2017

LIVE: @GenJNMattis and @CENTCOM's Gen. Votel update the press on the Syria strikes pic.twitter.com/GbVaMnT6yD

— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) April 11, 2017