"Use Of Chemical Weapons Must Not Go Unchallenged" Says Cabinet

Cover: Theresa May at the Conservative Party’s Spring Forum in March (Picture: Simon Dawson/PA).

Prime Minister Theresa May's Cabinet has met and received an update on the attack against innocent civilians in Douma, Syria, on Saturday.

The Prime Minister said it was a shocking and barbaric act which killed up to 75 people, including children, in the most appalling and inhumane way.

Cabinet agreed that the Assad regime has a track record of the use of chemical weapons and it is highly likely that the regime is responsible for Saturday's attack.

The Prime Minister said it was a further example of the erosion of international law in relation to the use of chemical weapons, which was deeply concerning to us all.

During the discussion, Cabinet agreed it was vital that the use of chemical weapons did not go unchallenged.

They agreed on the need to take action to alleviate humanitarian distress and to deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime, as well as on the fact that the Prime Minister should continue to work with allies in the United States and France to coordinate an international response.

The Prime Minister summoned ministers to No 10 after saying "all the indications" were that the regime was responsible for an alleged chemical attack on its own people last weekend.

On Thursday morning, Russian media reported Syrian government forces had seized control of the city at the centre of the escalating tensions, Douma, where the attack is said to have taken place.

Kremlin-backed news agency Tass reported a Moscow official saying that Russian military police will be deployed to the city to maintain law and order.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had said it intends to send investigators to Douma to look for any evidence of a chemical attack.

Yuri Yevtushenko, chief of Russia's centre for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, told Tass:

"Today saw a landmark event in Syria's history. A state flag hoisted on the Douma building heralded control over this settlement and, hence, over entire eastern Ghouta."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined other opposition parties - as well as some Conservative backbenchers - in insisting MPs must have a say on any British involvement in military action.

However, Mrs May faces growing impatience from Washington, where President Donald Trump tweeted the missiles "will be coming".

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders later insisted no final decisions had been taken and that "all options are on the table".

She made clear however that Mr Trump held Assad and his principal backer, Russia, responsible for what happened in the rebel-held town of Douma.

"The president holds Syria and Russia responsible for this chemical weapons attack," she said.

Trumps Tweets: Missiles will be "coming"

Earlier, President Donald Trump took Twitter to warn Syrian ally, Russia, that "nice and new and 'smart!'" missiles will be "coming" to Syria. 

The US President promised that the suspected chemical attack on Douma in eastern Ghouta, will be "met forcefully", just hours after Russia warned US military action could cause "grave repercussions".

President Trump met with his military leaders in Washington on Monday night to discuss to the response to the "horrible attack", saying a decision would be made "tonight or very shortly thereafter".

Trump's comment 'You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!' is suspected to be referring to Russia's support of Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad.

Earlier in the week, Trump previously called the Syrian President "Animal Assad".

He tweeted there was "a big price to pay".

In another tweet, Trump said that relations between the US and Russia is "worse now than it has ever been", which he says is including the Cold War. 

He went on to say "we need all nations to work together".

Syria: US threats are "reckless"

The Syrian government have responded to the US threats to attack as "reckless" and say they endanger international peace and security.

Both Syria and Russia have rejected allegations that they are responsible for the attack on Douma.

The Syrian foreign ministry said that Washington is using an alleged chemical attack to target the country and the threats are hindering the government's efforts to fight "terrorism".

The ministry said in a statement which was carried by state media:

"The pretext of a chemical attack has become well known to everybody and is a flimsy and unsubstantiated excuse to target Syria.

"We are not surprised by this reckless escalation from a regime like the one in the United States, which has and continues to sponsor terrorism in Syria".

It added that recent statements from Washington "show (the Trump administration) lacks not only principles and values but also wisdom and logic and that in itself endangers international peace and security".

The Syrian government calls all opposition groups "terrorists" and has accused Washington of back terrorism, including IS militants.

If threats from the US and its allies, France and Britain, are intended to stop Syria from fighting, "they are delusional", said the statement. 

"The Syrian state will continue to fight terrorism no matter what their reaction is."

The Syrian government said its invitation to the international chemical weapons watchdog is "proof" that they are innocent of using chemical weapons.

Russia: Missiles will be downed

In Moscow, Russian politicians previously said that a US air strike on Syria would be seen as a war crime that could trigger a military clash between the two countries. 

Russia's ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zasypkinhad, warned they would shoot down US rockets and "even the sources that launched the missiles" - suggesting they could hit American aircraft or warships.

In an interview with Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV, Russia's ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin, said: 

"If there is a strike by the Americans, then ... the missiles will be downed and the source of the missiles targeted".

Europe's airspace authorities have now warned aircraft to be careful over the coming days when flying close to Syria because of potential military action.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has sent a Rapid Alert Notification to notify pilots to consider the possibility of air missile strikes on Syria.