Johnson: US Could Strike Syria Again

Boris Johnson has warned that America could unleash further strikes on Syria in the fight to weaken president Bashar Assad's regime.

The Foreign Secretary is meeting with global counterparts in an attempt to force Russia to withdraw its support for Assad's regime, as tensions rise following US President Donald Trump's military intervention.

President Trump ordered a series of missile strikes last week in response to the deaths of more than 80 people, including children, during a chemical attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun.

But the joint command centre made up of Assad's allies, including Russia and Iran, issued a statement saying the US strike had crossed "red lines". It said:

"From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well."

Discussing America's response to the attack, Mr Johnson told The Sun: "Crucially - they could do so again.

"We cannot miss this moment.

"It is time for (Russian president Vladimir) Putin to face the truth about the tyrant he is still propping up."

Mr Putin and Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani said American military intervention was a "violation of international law" during telephone talks backing the Syrian regime.

The US and UK have blamed Russia for being complicit in the horrific deaths of innocent Syrians in last week's chemical attack and the federation is facing the threat of fresh international sanctions over its support for the dictator.

Mr Johnson spent the weekend on the telephone to G7 foreign ministers ahead of the two-day meeting in Tuscany and also spoke to key regional players, including the Saudis.

During talks in Italy, he will say that Assad has no future in Syria, Russia must stop supporting the regime and a plan to rebuild the country must be drawn up.

It comes after Mr Johnson was lambasted for pulling out of planned talks with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov following discussions with the US.

Critics claimed the move left him looking "daft" and as though he "can't be trusted".

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson will go ahead with his visit this week to deliver a "clear and co-ordinated" message to the Kremlin. A UK Government source said:

"The important thing is that this is Britain helping to influence US policy on Syria and Russia, far from being a poodle."

"Three months ago Syria wasn't really an issue for them but our push and recent events have made a difference."

Former head of MI6 Sir John Sawers supported the intervention in Syria but expressed serious concerns about Mr Trump's ability to manage the complex diplomatic challenges in the Middle East and North Korea.

"Whilst the tensions this morning and this week around the world are higher, the enforcement of international norms actually is in the long-term interests of the West and the world generally, to rule out the use of chemical weapons in any circumstances," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Asked if he was scared of Mr Trump, the former diplomat and spymaster said: "He is not someone who fills me with confidence. He doesn't have the background and the experience and the instincts of being an effective US president." He added, however, that:

"It is in our interests that we have a US administration which upholds the international system, that supports its allies and supports international norms."

He said the last week had shown "sensible grown-ups within the administration taking charge and the rather ideological figures around Trump himself being marginalised".