白宫星期一明确表示，美国认为叙利亚总统阿萨德无法继续长期执政。

美国总统川普的新闻发言人斯派塞告诉记者说，“你无法想象阿萨德掌权下，叙利亚会实现稳定与和平。我不认为这是可能出现的情形。”

白宫发言人斯派塞表示，美国的当务之急是击败在叙利亚的伊斯兰国武装人员，接下来就要为“叙利亚的领导人更迭创造环境”。他说，结束历时7年的叙利亚冲突的一个目标，就是要为饱经战火的叙利亚人民创建一个安全的环境，等留在祖国，无需逃离。

川普总统上周下令对叙利亚一个空军基地发动导弹袭击。美国官员认为叙利亚利用该基地用化学武器打击反阿萨德政权的反叛分子。化武袭击导致数十人丧生，数百人受害。

斯派塞表示，美国对叙利亚的攻击可能不会是最后一次。

The White House on Monday made clear it sees no way that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can stay in power for the long term.

Sean Spicer, U.S. President Donald Trump's spokesman, told reporters, "You can't imagine a stable and peaceful Syria with Assad in charge. I don't think that's a scenario that's possible."

The White House press secretary said the U.S.'s main priority is defeating Islamic State fighters in Syria and then to "create an environment for a change in leadership." He said one goal in ending the conflict, now in its seventh year, is to create a safe place for war weary Syrians to be able to remain in the country without having to flee the country for safe harbor.

Trump last week launched a missile attack on the air field U.S. officials believe Syria used as a base to assault rebels fighting the Assad regime with chemical weapons. Dozens were killed and hundreds more were sickened.

Spicer said the U.S. attack might not be the last.