Trump On Syria Chemical Attack: Blames Obama, Calls It 'Consequence Of The Past Administration’s Weakness And Irresolution'

President Donald Trump described Tuesday's suspected gas attack on civilians in Idlib, Syria, the immediate consequence of his predecessor's Syria policy. The chemical attack, believed to be one of the most deadliest since sarin gas killed hundreds of civilians in Ghouta near Damascus in August 2013, claimed the lives of over 100 people and left 300 wounded. Trump also accused Syrian President Bashar Assad and held him responsible for the deaths.

In a statement Tuesday, Trump blamed Barack Obama's administration and said, "These heinous actions by the Bashar al-Assad regime are a consequence of the past administration's weakness and irresolution."

"President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a 'red line' against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing," he added.

The president called the attack "reprehensible" and said it "cannot be ignored by the civilized world." However, the Trump administration did not declare what they would do about the attack. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer only mentioned earlier that Trump spoke to his national security team after the incident.

Several world leaders expressed their views after the alleged chemical attack and said the Syrian administration was responsible for it. One U.K. official also suggested that the attack amounted to a war crime. U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Boris Johnson criticized the Syrian government while speaking at a news conference. "If this were to be proved to have been committed by the Assad regime then it would be another reason to think they are an absolutely heinous outfit, that is, it is a war crime," Johnson said.

However, Assad's military claimed they had nothing to do with the use of chemical weapons and blamed rebels for the devastation. Syria's ally Russia claimed that they had no war planes nearby when the attacks happened, according to CNN.

"We deny completely the use of any chemical or toxic material in Khan Sheikhoun town today and the army has not used nor will use in any place or time, neither in past or in future," the Syrian army said, the Independent reported.

Trump's political tone while blaming the former administration for the chemical attack surprised several U.S. officials, according to ABC News. They mentioned that the former U.S. presidents have not attacked their predecessors so aggressively for such attacks, which must be condemned by all irrespective of which party they belong to. Several anonymous officials reportedly said that the National Security Council was working on a different statement, until Trump's closest advisers were asked to take over.

The attack received condemnation from leaders around the world.