The Shayrat base was targeted because Syria allegedly launched chemical weapons from there April 4 that devastated the town of Khan Sheikhoun, leaving 86 people dead, including dozens of children.
"We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world", he told reporters while commemorating a 1944 German Nazi massacre in Sant'Anna di Stazzema.
What is United States policy on Syria? The Trump administration says that Assad's regime was responsible for a chemical attack and that the missile strike was a proportional response to a violation of the laws of war that prohibit chemical weapons.
Tillerson was also hoping to unearth new information about Russia's role in the presidential election.
Russian Federation also warned that more USA strikes on Syria would be met with force.
Tillerson's visit to Europe has been overshadowed from the start by President Donald Trump's decision to punish Syrian President Bashar Assad for using chemical weapons by launching cruise missiles at a Syrian air base.
On Monday, the tension was only mounting. The official said the U.S.is now convinced Russian Federation controlled the drone. On Monday, the USA upped the stakes significantly by accusing Russia of knowing in advance of the chemical attack and using a Russian-operated drone to help cover it up. That two-day summit, which opened Monday in Lucca, brings together diplomats from the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan - all of whom have expressed uniform support for last week's missile strike.
At the White House, spokesman Sean Spicer insisted that Trump wouldn't box himself in by disclosing his actions in advance.
US, German, UK leaders discuss pressure on Russian Federation to end Syria links
According to media reports, Tillerson could use his Russian Federation trip to push the Kremlin to back away from Assad. Trump administration officials said a week ago that they had abandoned the goal of forcing Assad to leave power.
"The sight of people being gassed and blown away by barrel bombs ensures that if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action", he said.
"I'm disappointed here, because I think the real failure here has been Russia's failure to live up to its commitments under the chemical weapons agreements that were entered into in 2013", he said on ABC's "This Week".
Former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations Paul Heinbecker says possible action on Syria could include setting up no-fly zones to stop persistent bombing and chemical attacks inside Syria and the creation of safe areas for civilians. It's unclear how much that agenda has narrowed - but it is quite clear the missile strike is already casting its shadow across the meeting.
According to media reports, Tillerson could use his Russian Federation trip to push the Kremlin to back away from Assad. "From now on, we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is, and America knows our ability to respond well". Many U.S. lawmakers haven't accepted the rationale behind Russian intervention in Syria, and they are hopeful the U.S. can help persuade Russia to change its policy there.
He said the USA launched cruise missile strikes last week against the Syrian base "in a response of a chemical attack". "They are still not giving up on working with the Trump administration". But attempts by US officials to articulate the plan have only furthered the appearance of a policy still evolving. "But make no mistake: he will act".
Mr. Trump ordered his military to strike Syria in retaliation for what the U.S. said was a chemical weapons attack by President Bashar al-Assad's forces which killed scores of civilians, including many children.
Another U.S. official cautioned that no final American determination has been made that Russian Federation knew ahead of time that chemical weapons would be used.
Comments