Trump's eye-catching photo amid Syria's "tense" situation

Mr. Trump posted a photo of himself with 19 generals. (Photo: Twitter)

Dailymail reported that yesterday, President Trump posted a photo of himself with 19 generals in the Oval Office inside the White House with the status line: "Last night I had the great honor to host a dinner for military leaders and senior defense officials at the White House. The US military is the most powerful force in the history of the world. They, those in uniform, share an unwavering commitment to protecting the American people."

The photo is said to have attracted attention in the context of President Trump's announcement in a previous cabinet meeting that the US would decide how to respond to the chemical attack in Syria within the next 24-48 hours.

During a meeting with US military leaders, President Trump affirmed that the chemical attack in Syria “will be met and met strongly.” Several senior US officials attended the meeting, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford.

The White House also announced yesterday that President Trump will cancel his trip to Latin America this week to focus on the Syria issue.

In a related development, the US Navy said that the strike group, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, the cruiser USS Normandy, and the destroyers USS Arleigh Burke, USS Bulkeley, USS Forrest Sherman, and USS Farragut, will leave Norfolk today, April 11, to head to the Middle East for a new mission. US Navy spokeswoman Chloe Morgan confirmed that this is a previously planned force redeployment mission.

Previously, on April 10, the Wall Street JournalThe US Navy destroyer USS Donald Cook, carrying about 60 guided missiles, is currently in an area only about 100km from the Syrian port city of Tartus, according to the Washington Examiner.Citing a well-informed source, President Trump had missile options on board the USS Donald Cook, including a similar response last year when the US launched 59 Tomahawk missiles at Syria's Shayrat airbase.

Sputnik quoted a US State Department spokesman as saying that Washington and its allies are consulting with each other on how to respond to the suspected chemical weapons attack in Eastern Ghouta.

The US Navy's USS Donald Cook is very close to Syria. (Photo: Getty)

Amidst speculations that the US is preparing to launch a military strike against Syria, some media outlets in the Middle East say that Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family have apparently evacuated to Tehran (Iran). However, Sputnik, citing informed sources, said that this information is completely false, and that President Assad's family is still in Syria.