Fallon: Syria's Future Cannot Include Assad

The Defence Secretary says Syria's future cannot include President Bashar al-Assad, as he called on countries to unite to help bring peace to the war-torn nation.

Sir Michael Fallon has confirmed that Britain knew about a US airstrike on a Syrian airfield ahead of time, that was launched in response to a chemical weapons attack on civilians.

He told ITV he hoped it would encourage other nations to "work harder" to find a solution. He said:

"I hope we will all now redouble our efforts to bring about a political settlement in Syria.

"This is a civil war which has gone on for five years now, it has cost hundreds of thousands of lives, millions of people have been displaced.

"We all now need to work harder to bring about a political settlement in Syria, a future for Syria, without a dictator who's prepared to gas his own people."

He went on to say that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had had "every opportunity" to help bring the conflict in Syria to an end, when asked whether he was concerned about an escalation in tensions with the country as a result. He said: 

"On the contrary. What [Russia] has been doing, is prolonging this civil war."

"I think, now, Russia needs to think again about the influence it exercises over the dictator."

Cover image a file photo of Michael Fallon meeting troops.