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| UK government 'fully supports' US air strike in Syria | UK government 'fully supports' US air strike in Syria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK government says it "fully supports" the US missile strike against an air base in Syria over a suspected chemical weapons attack. | The UK government says it "fully supports" the US missile strike against an air base in Syria over a suspected chemical weapons attack. |
| Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the PM had been "informed throughout" but the UK was not asked to take part. | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the PM had been "informed throughout" but the UK was not asked to take part. |
| He described the strike as "limited" and "wholly appropriate". | He described the strike as "limited" and "wholly appropriate". |
| Fifty-nine Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from two US Navy ships in the Mediterranean. Six people were killed, the Syrian army said. | Fifty-nine Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from two US Navy ships in the Mediterranean. Six people were killed, the Syrian army said. |
| The attack comes days after dozens of civilians, including children, died in a suspected nerve gas attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in north-western Syria. | The attack comes days after dozens of civilians, including children, died in a suspected nerve gas attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in north-western Syria. |
| US President Donald Trump said the US missile strike targeted the base which was the launch point for this attack. | US President Donald Trump said the US missile strike targeted the base which was the launch point for this attack. |
| US launches missile strikes against Syria | US launches missile strikes against Syria |
| LIVE: Latest updates and global reaction to Trump strike | LIVE: Latest updates and global reaction to Trump strike |
| Sir Michael told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the UK government had had close discussions with the US over the past few days "at all levels" and had "reviewed the various options they were considering". | Sir Michael told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the UK government had had close discussions with the US over the past few days "at all levels" and had "reviewed the various options they were considering". |
| US Defence Secretary General James Mattis contacted the UK to give "advance notice of the President's final decision". | US Defence Secretary General James Mattis contacted the UK to give "advance notice of the President's final decision". |
| Sir Michael said the US strike had "targeted the airfield, the aircraft the support equipment that were involved, the Americans believe, in this gas attack and is designed to deter the regime from planning similar gas attacks". | Sir Michael said the US strike had "targeted the airfield, the aircraft the support equipment that were involved, the Americans believe, in this gas attack and is designed to deter the regime from planning similar gas attacks". |
| He said the US "hasn't declared war" on Syria and the UK had not been asked to get involved: "The Americans have made it very clear the attack last night was limited, was narrowly focused, they did everything possible to minimise Syrian casualties, indeed to involve Russian personnel on that particular airfield." | He said the US "hasn't declared war" on Syria and the UK had not been asked to get involved: "The Americans have made it very clear the attack last night was limited, was narrowly focused, they did everything possible to minimise Syrian casualties, indeed to involve Russian personnel on that particular airfield." |
| Sir Michael said there would have to be a vote in Parliament before the UK got involved in any military action. | Sir Michael said there would have to be a vote in Parliament before the UK got involved in any military action. |
| MPs rejected strikes against Syrian government forces in a 2013 vote, but Sir Michael stressed that the UK had not been asked to join the US action. | MPs rejected strikes against Syrian government forces in a 2013 vote, but Sir Michael stressed that the UK had not been asked to join the US action. |
| "We are not committed to military action in Syria, our Parliament considered that before back in 2013 and turned it down. But we are involved in trying to get a political settlement in Syria and we will all be working harder to do that now." | "We are not committed to military action in Syria, our Parliament considered that before back in 2013 and turned it down. But we are involved in trying to get a political settlement in Syria and we will all be working harder to do that now." |
| Innocent civilians | |
| Asked about the lack of a UN resolution backing the US strike, Sir Michael told the BBC: "The Americans tried very hard to get United Nations support but it became very clear that these resolutions would simply be vetoed and in any case the Syrian regime has ignored United Nations resolutions." | Asked about the lack of a UN resolution backing the US strike, Sir Michael told the BBC: "The Americans tried very hard to get United Nations support but it became very clear that these resolutions would simply be vetoed and in any case the Syrian regime has ignored United Nations resolutions." |
| He added that Russia could stop the regime and "use its influence against Assad to bring this slaughter to a stop". | He added that Russia could stop the regime and "use its influence against Assad to bring this slaughter to a stop". |
| President Trump called on "all civilised nations" to help end the conflict in Syria and branded Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a "dictator" who had "launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians". | President Trump called on "all civilised nations" to help end the conflict in Syria and branded Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a "dictator" who had "launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians". |
| Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson told the Birmingham Mail the US strikes "appear to be a direct and proportionate response" and chemical attacks on civilians "must have consequences". | Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson told the Birmingham Mail the US strikes "appear to be a direct and proportionate response" and chemical attacks on civilians "must have consequences". |
| Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron supported the US action and said the UK should be prepared to become involved militarily as well. | Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron supported the US action and said the UK should be prepared to become involved militarily as well. |
| He said: "The British government, rather than just putting out a bland statement welcoming this, should now follow it up and call an emergency meeting of the Nato alliance to see what else can be done, be that more surgical strikes or no-fly zones. | He said: "The British government, rather than just putting out a bland statement welcoming this, should now follow it up and call an emergency meeting of the Nato alliance to see what else can be done, be that more surgical strikes or no-fly zones. |
| "Evil happens when good people do nothing. We cannot sit by while a dictator gasses his own people. We cannot stand by, we must act." | "Evil happens when good people do nothing. We cannot sit by while a dictator gasses his own people. We cannot stand by, we must act." |
| Farage 'surprised' | |
| But former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who appeared alongside Mr Trump on campaign rallies before his election, urged Britain not to get involved in any further air strikes. | |
| He said: "I am very surprised by this. | |
| "I think a lot of Trump voters will be waking up this morning and scratching their heads and saying 'where will it all end?' | |
| "As a firm Trump supporter, I say, yes, the pictures were horrible, but I'm surprised. Whatever Assad's sins, he is secular." | |
| The Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, who chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said that, if the Syrian regime was responsible for the attack, then the US strikes were a "carefully calibrated" and "appropriate response" which would put further pressure on the Syrian regime and the Geneva talks, which was "a good thing." | The Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, who chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said that, if the Syrian regime was responsible for the attack, then the US strikes were a "carefully calibrated" and "appropriate response" which would put further pressure on the Syrian regime and the Geneva talks, which was "a good thing." |
| He said the US must have had evidence to discount the Syrian and Russian account of the attack but told the BBC: "This doesn't make any sense from the position of the Syrian government. | He said the US must have had evidence to discount the Syrian and Russian account of the attack but told the BBC: "This doesn't make any sense from the position of the Syrian government. |
| "They would know that the use of chemical weapons would have been likely to get this kind of response." | "They would know that the use of chemical weapons would have been likely to get this kind of response." |
| The UK government has made renewed calls this week for diplomatic action in response to the chemical attack. | The UK government has made renewed calls this week for diplomatic action in response to the chemical attack. |
| The US, UK and France had brought a resolution before the United Nations Security Council, demanding an investigation. | The US, UK and France had brought a resolution before the United Nations Security Council, demanding an investigation. |
| But on Wednesday, Downing Street had played down the prospect of military action, insisting "nobody is talking" about an armed response to the atrocity. | But on Wednesday, Downing Street had played down the prospect of military action, insisting "nobody is talking" about an armed response to the atrocity. |