If they only had TLAM available, then didn't have any warheads suitable for destroying CW - that would require something like a thermobaric warhead.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/mili...pons-14826307/
AW&ST:
Pentagon officials say all 59 Raytheon-built Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles fired against a Syria’s Shayrat airfield on April 7 reached their intended targets and the 60th was waved off. One missile failed, but another was launched in its place. A surface-to-air missile site, radar and about 20 aircraft plus various ammunition bunkers and suspected chemical weapon storage facilities were damaged or destroyed in the attack. That is the assessment of the U.S. Defense Department. Speaking to the media at the Pentagon, two officials involved in the mission who declined to be named said the late-night naval strike was executed with 100% accuracy. “We’re very positive that 59 missiles hit,” they said.........
Russia was told in advance that the strike would occur, and Moscow’s regional air defense systems did not react to the passing Tomahawks. The Syrian-owned, Soviet-made surface-to-air missile system defending the base appeared to be no match for the agile, low-flying Tomahawk and was wrecked........
Preparations for the Tomahawk bombardment began on April 5, when Trump asked Secretary of Defense James Mattis for a menu of military options to respond to the chemical attack reported the day before. It was the largest chemical attack carried out in Syria since the attack on Damascus in 2013 and was made worse by a bomb strike on the local hospital treating the victims. The options, including the precision naval strike, were scrutinized by the National Security Council and presented to the Commander in Chief on April 6. By about 4.30 pm that day, while hosting the Chinese president at the Mar-a-lago resort in Florida, Trump told his generals to execute the Tomahawk plan. Four hours later, Russia was informed about imminent military actions against the airfield and then the USS Porter and USS Ross opened fire.
The ships are assigned to the Sixth Fleet operating from Rota, Spain. They were maneuvered into position the day before and had been awaiting the go-order. Officials say the crews of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are well practiced at this type of mission. It was assessed to be the military option with the lowest risk to U.S. forces, instead of a strike by manned fighters or bombers.
The missiles impacted their targets in Syria between 3-4 a.m. local time on April 7. Declassified imagery shows the significant blast marks in some targets and dark pinholes through others. U.S. officials say the exact damage is still being assessed, but they are confident that at least 20 aircraft were destroyed and they did not track any aircraft leaving the target area in the four hours after Russia was told. The runway was not targeted because the warheads used would not have been effective..........