Japan’s Abe offers indirect support for missile strike on Syria

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indirectly expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s attack on Syria.

Speaking after a National Security Council meeting on April 7, Abe said he supported “the U.S. government’s determination to strongly oppose the spread and use of chemical weapons.”

“We understand the U.S. government’s strikes this time is to prevent further deterioration of the situation,” Abe said.

Abe followed the trend of most world leaders, supporting the effort to stop chemical weapons, but not directly supporting firing cruise missiles into Syria.

President Trump surprised the world Thursday night by ordering a missile attack on Syria’s al-Shayrat airfield, which was the launching point for the airstrike which dropped chemical weapons on civilians on April 4.