Trump, Macron agree on ‘strong, joint response’ to alleged Syria chemical attack

President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to a joint response to the alleged chemical weapons attack in the rebel-controlled Damascus suburb of Douma, the White House said on Sunday.

During a phone call on Sunday, the two leaders agreed to share information about the nature of the attacks and agreed to coordinate a “strong, joint response.”

They agreed that Bashar Assad’s government “must be held accountable for its continued human rights abuses,” the White House said.

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They also agreed to coordinate their efforts at an upcoming meeting of the United Nations’s (U.N.) Security Council on Monday, according to Agence France-Presse. 

Macron “strongly condemned the chemical attacks on April 7 against the population of Douma,” according to a statement from the Élysée Palace obtained by AFP.

The chemical weapons attack in Douma on Saturday killed at least 48 people.

President Trump called the attack “sick” and said that Russia and Iran bear responsibility because of their support for Assad.

Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

….to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

The U.S. and a number of other nations called for an emergency U.N. meeting on the matter on Monday.