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Syria latest: Theresa May calls strikes 'right and legal' – live updates Syria latest: Theresa May calls strikes 'right and legal' – live updates
(35 minutes later)
French defence ministry sources said France fired 12 missiles in coordinated air and sea strikes.
First, cruise missiles were fired from frigates in the Mediterranean, and then, 20 minutes later missiles were fired from several French fighter jets which had taken off from airbases in France and were now back at base.
The French naval vessels involved in the strikes have now left the area and headed west. The French operation lasted 10 hours. “The operation is over, the French aircraft are back,” a French defence source said.
The Democratic Unionist Party backed May’s decision.
Deputy leader and North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds MP said: “First and foremost we salute the courage of our brave servicemen and women. They have carried out their duty with typical discipline and valour.
“The Prime Minister has the full authority, on the basis of all the information at her disposal, to order the type of military action which has been carried out this morning and we reject any suggestion that she was not entitled to do so.
“We are reassured that the military action is strictly targeted and limited in its purpose. Also that it is not about a wider intervention in the Syrian civil war which would, in our view, be counter productive.
“Given the context of the recent international response to the use of a nerve agent in the UK, the clear targeed purpose of the strikes, and the repeated blocking by Russia of diplomatic solutions through the UN, we believe the Prime Minister was justified in standing with our American and French allies in this concerted action.”
Former UK prime minister, David Cameron, has declared his support for the airstrikes in Syria.
I firmly support the military action taken in Syria. The barbaric & intolerable use of chemical weapons should never go unchecked. As we have seen in the past, inaction has its consequences - so PM right to join forces with our allies to take targeted & appropriate action. 1/2
My thoughts are with our brave servicemen & women who have been called to duty. Let the message go out loud & clear: the use of chemical weapons is never acceptable. 2/2
The US has launched air strikes alongside UK and French forces aimed at reducing Syrian regime’s chemical weapons facilities in the wake of last weekend’s gas attack on the Damascus suburb of Douma.
Moments after US president Donald Trump concluded his address on Friday night about 2am BST, reports emerged of explosions in Syria. A Pentagon briefing later confirmed three sites were hit: two in Damascus and one in Homs. The sites were all regarded as linked to the storage, or testing, of chemical weapons. Syrian air defences responded to the strikes but the US said it had suffered no losses in the initial air strikes.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, said the airstrikes were an “act of aggression” and would worsen the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
Trump said the attack in Douma a week ago represented “a significant escalation in a pattern of chemical weapons use” by the Assad regime. He said: “We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents.”
The British prime minister, Theresa May, said she authorised targeted strikes to “degrade the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons capability and deter their use”. Taking a swipe at Russia, she said: “We cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalised – within Syria, on the streets of the UK, or anywhere else in our world. We would have preferred an alternative path. But on this occasion there is none.”
May addressed journalists at 10 Downing Street on Saturday morning, reiterating comments made in her statement.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has called the airstrikes “legally questionable” and said May should have sought parliamentary approval for the strikes.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence said four Tornado jets flew from Cyprus as part of the strikes on Homs. The UK defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, said the UK involvement has been successful.
The US defence secretary, James Mattis, said the US, UK and France had taken “decisive action” against Syria’s chemical weapon infrastructure and did not rule out further strikes. “Clearly the Assad regime did not get the message” last time, he said, referring to the response to the Ghouta chemical attack in 2017. He said the allies had “gone to great length to avoid civil and foreign casualties”.
French president Emmanuel Macron said the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime posed an “immediate danger for the Syrian people and our collective security.”
The Spanish foreign ministry described the strikes as a “legitimate and proportional” response to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons against the civilian population.
“A chemical weapons attack is a crime against humanity,” it said. “Those responsible for this and previous attacks must be brought to justice. We regret the Security Council’s paralysis on this issue. We always prefer concerted international action to unilateral action. But when the latter is taken, it must be proportional, as it has been on this occasion.”
In remarks apparently directed at the Russian government, the statement went on: “Those who support the Syrian regime must exert all the necessary pressure to avoid attacks against the civilian population. The continuing violations of the ceasefire are not acceptable. But the use of chemical weapons is a qualitatively different issue and a matter of extreme gravity. Sadly this is not the first time but we hope it will be the last.”
The Spanish government said that only a UN-supervised political transition would bring peace to Syria: “Spain wholeheartedly supports that transition as the only way to put an end to the images we have seen over recent days of children dying amid atrocious suffering. Nothing can justify something like that.”
Israel has said the strikes were an “important signal” to Iran, Syria and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.Israel has said the strikes were an “important signal” to Iran, Syria and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
“The use of chemical weapons crosses a red line that humanity can no longer tolerate,” Yoav Gallant, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, said on Twitter.“The use of chemical weapons crosses a red line that humanity can no longer tolerate,” Yoav Gallant, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, said on Twitter.
“The American attack is an important signal to the axis of evil - Iran, Syria and Hezbollah,” he added.“The American attack is an important signal to the axis of evil - Iran, Syria and Hezbollah,” he added.
There have been concerns expressed among high-level security figures in Israel that the country could be targetted by Iran, Syria or Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah, following US strikes.There have been concerns expressed among high-level security figures in Israel that the country could be targetted by Iran, Syria or Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah, following US strikes.
As May was speaking, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has issued a statement in which he says the use of chemical weapons is “unacceptable in any circumstances”.As May was speaking, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has issued a statement in which he says the use of chemical weapons is “unacceptable in any circumstances”.
Last night, France, the United Kingdom and the United States responded in a coordinated military action to the heinous chemical weapons attack carried out by the Syrian regime against civilians in Douma on 7 April.Last night, France, the United Kingdom and the United States responded in a coordinated military action to the heinous chemical weapons attack carried out by the Syrian regime against civilians in Douma on 7 April.
As the European Commission has stated, the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable in any circumstances and must be condemned in the strongest terms. The international community has the responsibility to identify and hold accountable those responsible of any attack with chemical weapons.As the European Commission has stated, the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable in any circumstances and must be condemned in the strongest terms. The international community has the responsibility to identify and hold accountable those responsible of any attack with chemical weapons.
This was not the first time that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons against civilians but it must be the last.This was not the first time that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons against civilians but it must be the last.
As it enters its 8th year of conflict, Syria desperately needs a lasting ceasefire respected by all parties that paves the way for achieving a negotiated political solution through the United Nations-led Geneva process, to bring peace to the country once and for all. After the suffering they have endured, Syrians deserve nothing less.As it enters its 8th year of conflict, Syria desperately needs a lasting ceasefire respected by all parties that paves the way for achieving a negotiated political solution through the United Nations-led Geneva process, to bring peace to the country once and for all. After the suffering they have endured, Syrians deserve nothing less.
The use of chemical weapons is unacceptable in any circumstances and must be condemned in the strongest terms. The international community has the responsibility to identify and hold accountable those responsible of any attack with chemical weapons. #Syria pic.twitter.com/beF6IEirEPThe use of chemical weapons is unacceptable in any circumstances and must be condemned in the strongest terms. The international community has the responsibility to identify and hold accountable those responsible of any attack with chemical weapons. #Syria pic.twitter.com/beF6IEirEP
Pressed on the role of Parliament and future votes on further military action, May said she thought the action was “the right thing to do” and was about “degradation of chemical weapons”.Pressed on the role of Parliament and future votes on further military action, May said she thought the action was “the right thing to do” and was about “degradation of chemical weapons”.
Asked if the current scenario shows the vote in 2013 to take no action against Syria was a mistake, she said: “I voted to take action in 2013. When the Government put that to Parliament we felt it was the right thing to do.”Asked if the current scenario shows the vote in 2013 to take no action against Syria was a mistake, she said: “I voted to take action in 2013. When the Government put that to Parliament we felt it was the right thing to do.”
She said promises were made by the Syrian regime at the time which were subsequently not kept.She said promises were made by the Syrian regime at the time which were subsequently not kept.
Asked why UK did not wait “one or two days” for formal proof from chemical weapons investigators, May said the recent attack in Douma was not the only one that has taken place. The reason for UK action was not just the events in Douma but also earlier attacks.Asked why UK did not wait “one or two days” for formal proof from chemical weapons investigators, May said the recent attack in Douma was not the only one that has taken place. The reason for UK action was not just the events in Douma but also earlier attacks.
“All the indications were this was a chemical weapons attack at the hands of the Syrian regime,” she said.“All the indications were this was a chemical weapons attack at the hands of the Syrian regime,” she said.
Given the failure of all diplomatic efforts so far, what is the plan following these strikes?Given the failure of all diplomatic efforts so far, what is the plan following these strikes?
May says diplomatic efforts so far have not had “the impact we wish it would have”. “We’ve now taken military action and alongside that we will renew diplomatic efforts as well,” she adds.May says diplomatic efforts so far have not had “the impact we wish it would have”. “We’ve now taken military action and alongside that we will renew diplomatic efforts as well,” she adds.
Asked if UK spoke to Russia before the strikes took place, May said it did not.Asked if UK spoke to Russia before the strikes took place, May said it did not.
Asked by the Guardian’s Jessica Elgot if she is concerned that she may not have the support of the British people, May replied:
“My message to people is this is about the use of chemical weapons.
We’ve had an accepted position in the international community - chemical weapons are illegal, they are banned - we’ve seen that international norm eroded.”
May said a nerve agenet has been used on UK streets and the Syrian regime have continued to use chemical weapons despite reassurances they did not have any.
“It is important for the alleviation of humanitarian suffering in Syria but also if we stand back and look at this more widely it’s in all our interests that we restore that international norm on the prohibition of chemical weapons.”
Following her comments related to the attack in Salisbury, May was asked if the airstrikes were just about Assad or a warning to Russia as well. She said:
“The action taken last night was focused on degrading and deterring the operational capability and wilingness of the Syrian regime to use chemical weapons.”
But she added: “I believe it is a message to others that the international community is not going to stand by and see chemical weapons used with immunity.”
Asked why she did not seek prior approval or debate?
“I believe this action was necessary, it was the right thing for us to do. We’ve been working with our allies and partners to make a full assessment of what happened on the ground, then to consider what action was necessary. Then to do that in a timely fashion.
“One of the gravest decisions a prime minister can take is to send our service personnel into action, into combat. We owe it to them we protect their safety and security.”
May said the attacks were “right and legal”.
She said: “The lesson of history is when the global rules and standard that keep us safe come under threat we must take a stand and defend them. That’s what we’ve always done and will continue to do.”
“The use of a nerve agent in the UK in recent weeks is part of a pattern of disregard for these norms,” May says.
“It will send a clear signal to anyone else who believes they can use chemical weapons with immunity.”
May says the military action would alleviate further suffering.
“It was not about regime change,” May says. “It was a limited, targeted, effective strike with clear boundaries.”
The strikes will degrade ability to research, develop and deploy chemical weapons, she says.
“Last night’s strikes by US, UK and France were significantly larger than the US action a year ago, and designed to have greater impact on regime’s capability and willingness to use chemical weapons.”
UK will not “stand by and tolerate use of chemical weapons”, she says.
May says the UK Government has attempted to approach Syria through diplomatic channels but to no avail.
“The UK Government has been working intensively with international partners to build evidence picture”, she says.
May says the fact of the chemical weapon attack in Douma “should surprise no one”.
We know the Syrian regime has an abhorrent record of using chemical weapons against its own people.
No other group could have carried out this attack. Daesh does not have a presence in Douma.
Theresa May is making a statement at Downing Street on the US-led airstrikes in Syria.
She said full assessments of the UK airstrike are taking place but Government is “confident of its success”.
Here’s more from our Moscow correspondent, Andrew Roth, on Putin’s statement.
Vladimir Putin said that the US-led strike would “worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria”.
The attack would “bring suffering to the peaceful population, in effect pander to the terrorists who have tormented the Syrian people for seven years, and provoke a new wave of refugees” from the country, the Russian president said.
The attack would “have a destructive effect on the entire system of international relations”, he added.
Putin also repeated Russian insistences that the country had found no evidence of the chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburb of Douma that led to Saturday morning’s airstrikes.
“Russian military experts at the place of the alleged incident did not find any signs of the use of chlorine or other poisonous substances. Not one local resident confirmed the fact of a chemical attack,” Putin said in the statement released by the Kremlin.
Putin also attack the US-led coalition for carrying out the strike “without waiting for the results of the investigation”, referring to a fact finding mission of experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons bound for Douma.
The Candian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has offered his support to the actions taken by US, UK and France. In a statement he said:
Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons in last week’s attack in eastern Ghouta, Syria.
Canada supports the decision by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France to take action to degrade the Assad regime’s ability to launch chemical weapons attacks against its own people.
We will continue to work with our international partners to further investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Those responsible must be brought to justice.