In the wake of a chemical weapons attack in Syria , formally blamed by the Obama administration on the Assad government , Obama chose not to enforce the " red line " he had pledged and , rather than authorize the promised military action against Assad , went along with the Russia-brokered deal that led to Assad giving up chemical weapons ; however attacks with chlorine gas continued . In 2014 , Obama authorized an air campaign aimed primarily at ISIL , but repeatedly promised that the U.S. would not deploy ground troops in Syria
chemical weapons attack
Ghouta chemical attack
Barack Obama