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UK PM Theresa May claims Syria strikes "not because Trump told us to" (WATCH LIVE) UK PM Theresa May claims Syria strikes "not because Trump told us to" (WATCH LIVE)
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May told parliament the airstrikes against Syria by Britain and its allies were “morally and legally right," but was mocked over whether she or President Trump made the decision for the UK military to launch strikes.Theresa May told parliament the airstrikes against Syria by Britain and its allies were “morally and legally right," but was mocked over whether she or President Trump made the decision for the UK military to launch strikes.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn responded by calling the strikes in Syria "legally questionable." He accused May of not exhausting all diplomatic avenues, and said other groups, not just Assad, have used chemical weapons during the Syria conflict.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn responded by calling the strikes in Syria "legally questionable." He accused May of not exhausting all diplomatic avenues, and said other groups, not just Assad, have used chemical weapons during the Syria conflict.
The operation followed allegations of a chemical weapons attack in the Syrian town of Douma.  The operation followed allegations of a chemical weapons attack in the Syrian town of Douma.  
May told parliament that the UK was unable to act through the UN Security Council (UNSC) saying Russia would use its power at the UN to "veto our foreign policy".May told parliament that the UK was unable to act through the UN Security Council (UNSC) saying Russia would use its power at the UN to "veto our foreign policy".
May insisted: “We have acted because it is in our national interest to prevent the further use of chemical weapons in Syria and uphold the global consensus that they should not be used… wither in Syria or on the streets of the UK.May insisted: “We have acted because it is in our national interest to prevent the further use of chemical weapons in Syria and uphold the global consensus that they should not be used… wither in Syria or on the streets of the UK.
“We have done this because we believe it is the right thing to do, and we are not alone.”“We have done this because we believe it is the right thing to do, and we are not alone.”
After accusations that Britain was simply following the lead of the US in the strikes against Assad, May said: “We have not done this because President Trump asked us to do so."   After accusations that Britain was simply following the lead of the US in the strikes against Assad, May said: “We have not done this because President Trump asked us to do so."
READ MORE: ‘The PM is accountable to this parliament, not to the whims of the US president’ – Corbyn  
Opposition leader Corbyn took the chance to remind the Prime Minister that British foreign policy should not be dictated by "the whims of the American president".Opposition leader Corbyn took the chance to remind the Prime Minister that British foreign policy should not be dictated by "the whims of the American president".
May insisted that “very careful scientific analysis was used” to identify targets where chemical weapons were stockpiled, and with minimal risk to civilians. The US, France and Britain launched strikes a day before chemical weapons inspectors had even arrived in Syria.  May attempted to defend the decision to strike before the OPCW had even arrived by saying: "UNSC-Mandated inspectors have investigated previous attacks and on four occasions decided that the Regime was indeed responsible.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW "We are confident in our own assessment that the Syrian Regime was highly likely responsible for this attack and that its persistent pattern of behavior meant that it was highly likely to continue using chemical weapons."
The allied strike against Syria comes as a response to an alleged chlorine gas bombing in the Eastern Ghoutan town of Douma, which killed up to 75 people, including women and children children, and resulting in up to 500 casualties.
So far Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government has denied responsibility.
Saturday’s air raid was carried out at 2am GMT by US, UK, and French forces. The attack has been described as a “violation of international law” by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, who have also denied responsibility for the April 7 chemical attack.
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