Chemical Weapon Attack In US 'Could Happen', UN Ambassador Nikki Haley Warns

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley cautioned that chemical attacks similar to those in Syria "could happen" in the United States if more precautions aren't taken domestically.

Speaking with "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace, the former South Carolina governor defended the U.S., U.K. and France partnership that saw the three countries launch more than 100 missiles at three separate targets in Syria. Haley continued her criticism of Russia at the U.N. Security Council Saturday, noting "Russia's failure to live up to their international commitments to remove all chemical weapons from Syria."

"This very easily could happen in the United States if we're not smart, and if we're not conscious of what's happening," Haley told Fox News early Sunday morning. "We have to be very conscious of the fact that we cannot allow even the smallest use of chemical weapons. That's why you saw the president strike this past weekend, that's why you saw him expel sixty Russian spies after the attack in Salisbury."

Haley backed President Donald Trump's "mission accomplished" statement about the strikes, saying the Syrian facilities that were targeted sent a "pretty strong message" to both Syria and Russia. The missile strike followed a week of chemical attacks that took the lives of dozens of civilians in the rebel-controlled town of Douma that has led the opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"We put a heavy blow into their chemical weapons program, setting them back years," Haley added. "Hopefully he's gotten the message."

"A week has gone by in which we have talked. We've talked about the victims in Douma. We've talked about the Assad regime and its patrons, Russia and Iran," Haley told the U.N. Security Council Saturday. "We've spent a week talking about the unique horror of chemical weapons. The time for talk ended last night."

Haley said Trump told her the U.S. is "locked and loaded" should the Syrian government continue to launch chemical weapons attacks against civilians.

"When our president draws a red line, our president enforces a red line," she added.