President Donald Trump hosted an event Thursday, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the terrorist attack in Beirut, Lebanon, condemning radical Islamic terrorism.
“On that morning 35 years ago, they were among the very first to give their lives in the battle against radical Islamic terrorism — the battle that we are winning and we will win,” he said during an event at the White House.
Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Chief of Staff John Kelly were also present for the event.
Trump recalled that a truck crashed into the Marine barracks, killing 220 United States Marines, 18 American sailors, and 3 American soldiers.
The president reminded the audience that the attack was carried out by Hezbollah, a terrorist group funded by Iran. He vowed to continue sanctioning Hezbollah and Iran, while working to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
“We will target, disrupt, and dismantle their operational and financing networks and we will never forget what they did to our great Marines in Beirut,” Trump said. “We will never forget.”
The president also signed the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act (HIFPAA) of 2018 on Thursday, enacting more financial sanctions on the group. Trump also gave an update on the continuing fight against the Islamic State.
“They are virtually knocked out entirely in Syria,” he said. “In another short period of time, they’ll be gone, and also in Iraq and in lots of other places.”
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