Trump: Syria Chemical Attack Will Be Met Forcefully

The US President has promised the alleged chemical attack in Syria will be "met forcefully" hours after Russia warned US military action could cause "grave repercussions".

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

He said: "We're the greatest fighting force anywhere in the world. These gentlemen and ladies are incredible people, incredible talent. And we are making a decision as to what we do with respect to the horrible attack that was made near Damascus."

"It will be met and it will be met forcefully."

"When, I will not say because I don't like talking about timing.”

He added that the US was developing "the greatest force that we've ever had" and mentioned the $700 billion budget for defence that he signed off in February.

The alleged chemical attack in Douma occurred late on Saturday amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce with the Army of Islam rebel group.

Syrian opposition activists and rescuers said poison gas was used on the rebel-held town near the capital, an allegation strongly denied by the Assad government.

Families were reportedly found suffocated in their homes and shelters, with foam on their mouths. Reports suggested more than 500 people, mostly women and children, were brought to medical centres with difficulty breathing, foaming at the mouth, and burning sensations in the eyes.

Mr Trump said: "We can't let atrocities like we all witnessed [happen]... You can see that and it’s horrible."

"We can't let happen. In our world, we can't let that happen."

"Especially when we're able - because of the power of the United States, because of the power of our country - we're able to stop it."

Prime Minister Theresa May said that the UK was considering what action was necessary in response to the "barbaric" attack.

Asked if the UK would join any US-led military action in Syria, Mrs May said during a visit to Sweden: "What we are currently doing is working urgently with our allies to assess what has happened here."

"But, we are also working with our allies on any action that is necessary."

Mrs May sidestepped a question on whether Parliament would be recalled from recess to debate any military intervention.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in February that Britain should consider joining military action against Assad's regime if there is fresh "incontrovertible" evidence he has used chemical weapons against his own people.

The US Acting Secretary of State, John J Sullivan spoke with Mr Johnson twice yesterday to discuss the alleged chemical weapon attack in Douma and the international community's response.

William Hague, who served in the Foreign Office when the Commons blocked action against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in 2013, argued in an article in the Daily Telegraph that if Trump launches serious retaliation, the UK should back him in any way it can. 

France is supporting calls for action; Mr Trump discussed the Syrian attack with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday and Monday, and both leaders expressed a desire for a "firm response".

Mr Trump's threat of force came after Moscow's ambassador to the UN warned of the potential consequences to Western intervention in Syria at a tense meeting of the UN Security Council.

Vassily Nebenzia said US attacks on Syria "could lead to grave repercussions" and said the tone taken against Russia had gone beyond what was acceptable even during the Cold War. He warned against a US military response.

US ambassador Nikki Haley said at the meeting: "We are beyond appeals to conscience. We have reached the moment when the world must see justice done.

"History will record this as the moment when the Security Council either discharged its duty or demonstrated its utter and complete failure to protect the people of Syria.

"Either way, the United States will respond."

The threat of force comes days after Mr Trump said he wanted to pull the United States out of Syria.