The airstrike was by far the easiest option...
as long as the ships were in the Eastern Med, and we always have ships in the Med as part of our NATO obligation, it takes a few seconds to download the target coordinates to the missiles' on-board computer and launch. Probably takes a few minutes each to ensure they have the proper warhead for the mission, but the actual load and launch is all automated.
It takes longer to get the authorization than to program and launch one of those missiles, generally. As far as target coords, we've been fucking with Syria for decades. We have that country pretty well mapped out. Contingencies like this are also planned in advance anyway. Hell, they use these kinds of situations in the war college when they practice/study how to become military commanders.
