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Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday that the Pentagon is continuing to monitor the chemical attacks in Syria, reports CNN's Ryan Browne. Earlier this morning, President Trump foreshadowed on Twitter that the U.S. is considering military strikes.

"We are still assessing the intelligence ourselves and our allies. We’re still working on this ... We stand ready to provide military options if they are appropriate as the President determines."

Jim Mattis: "We are still assessing" chemical attacks in Syria

This morning, Trump told Russia to "get ready" for strikes.

Mattis awaits the arrival of the Emir of Qatar in Washington. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

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<p>Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday that the Pentagon is continuing to monitor the chemical attacks in Syria, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports CNN&#x27;s Ryan Browne" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/rabrowne75/status/984093572390621185" data-vars-content-id="7765b67b-4ad8-49bf-a2f1-d6c5212b8864" data-vars-headline="Jim Mattis: &quot;We are still assessing&quot; chemical attacks in Syria" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/rabrowne75/status/984093572390621185" target="_blank">reports CNN&#x27;s Ryan Browne</a>. Earlier this morning, President Trump <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="foreshadowed on Twitter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/trump-taunts-russia-get-ready-for-missiles-coming-at-syria-1523444387-2cfb1e44-a1e4-4cc9-a122-98ff23914561.html" data-vars-content-id="7765b67b-4ad8-49bf-a2f1-d6c5212b8864" data-vars-headline="Jim Mattis: &quot;We are still assessing&quot; chemical attacks in Syria" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/trump-taunts-russia-get-ready-for-missiles-coming-at-syria-1523444387-2cfb1e44-a1e4-4cc9-a122-98ff23914561.html" target="_self">foreshadowed on Twitter</a> that the U.S. is considering military strikes.</p><blockquote>&quot;We are still assessing the intelligence ourselves and our allies. We’re still working on this ... We stand ready to provide military options if they are appropriate as the President determines.&quot;</blockquote><cite>— Defense Secretary Mattis</cite><span data-ad-status="NO_AD_LENGTH" data-ad-type="midStoryAd"></span>

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Jim Mattis: "We are still assessing" chemical attacks in Syria

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