British PM Theresa May: Syria strikes 'right' and 'legal'

Air strikes by Britain, France and the US in Syria sent a "clear message" against the use of chemical weapons, British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Saturday. Four British fighter jets struck a military base near Homs where Britain said Syrian government forces were holding chemical weapon components. "We have hit a specific and limited set of targets," she said. "This collective action sends a clear message that the international community will not stand by and tolerate the use of chemical weapons," May told a press conference in London. She said that at an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday "we agreed that it was both right and legal to take military action" after hearing legal advice. "I believe that the action taken will have significantly degraded the Syrian regime's ability to use chemical weapons," she said. "While the full assessment of the strike is ongoing, we are confident of its success," she added. Asked why she had proceeded without consulting parliament, May cited operational security consideration. "It was right to take the action that we have done in the timing that we have done," she said. May said she would address parliament on Monday about the strikes. The US, UK and France launched a co-ordinated air campaign in Syria on Saturday morning targeting a research centre, two chemical weapons facilities and an Assad regime command centre in response to his use of chemical weapons in rebel-held Douma. The strikes, which began at 4am local time in Syria, were announced by US President Donald Trump in a televised statement from the White House, that followed a week of deliberations inside the administration. “My fellow Americans, a short time ago, I ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar Al Assad. A combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now underway,” Mr Trump said. He said the mission was to “establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread, and use of chemical weapons” lambasting Iran and Russia for supporting Mr Al Assad. _____________ Read more _____________ French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement that "we cannot tolerate the normalisation of the use of chemical weapons". Terrorism expert Dr Afzal Ashraf of Nottingham University said the strikes were not likely to significantly alter Syria’s position. “Certainly the messages coming out from Syrian TV showing President Assad going to work, wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase, suggest that they want to send out a message that it is ‘business as usual,’" Dr Ashraf said. “All in all, the regime continues almost as normal with this degraded, alleged weapons capability, chemical weapons capability.” Julien Theron, an expert in conflicts, risks, strategy & international security in the Middle East, called the strikes a “massive message” from the alliance which could pave the way for better diplomacy. “The idea is, of course, perhaps to take these actions to get some strength on the diplomatic side now, to find some political sentiment,” Mr Theron said. Reports on social media showed strikes in Qasyoun mountain, in Barzeh area, and near Homs. Joint chiefs of staff General Joseph Dunford said that targets were struck heavily in Damascus and Homs. The first target was the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center, the second was a chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs, and the last was a chemical weapons storage facility as well as a military command post. Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told The National that the strikes are an "unprecedented military statement from the US, UK and France in Syria and a very substantial escalation when compared to the 2017 Shayrat strike." He said the targeting of multiple chemical weapons-linked facilities, the research facility and a command and control centre makes the air strikes the “most expansive response so far, given the risks inherent in an overly escalatory action.” Mr Lister added that the presence of the UK and France alongside the US was highly significant. “It adds much further to the pressure not just imposed on Damascus, but most importantly on Russia,” he said.

British PM Theresa May: Syria strikes 'right' and 'legal'

Syrian strikes send 'clear message' on chemical weapons, UK prime minister says