‘NEED FOR ACTION’
Theresa May and Donald Trump plan joint action against Assad in phone call after PM gets green light for missile strike in Syria
THERESA MAY has been given the green light to join US strikes against Syrian butcher Bashar al Assad by her Cabinet.
The PM’s top Ministers agreed it was “vital that the use of chemical weapons did not go unchallenged” in an emergency Downing Street summit.
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Last night in a phone call with US President Donald Trump the PM vowed to work towards building an international response but stressed they had not made a final decision.
A No.10 statement on the tense two hour meeting said it was “highly likely” that the Assad regime was behind the horrific attack in Douma last weekend.
It added: “Cabinet agreed on the need to take action to alleviate humanitarian distress and to deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime”.
All but five of Theresa May’s Cabinet team were at the meeting as Ministers scrapped engagements to rush to London.
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Trade Secretary Liam Fox was among those overseas, along with Treasury Secretary Liz Truss, Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, Energy Minister Claire Perry and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
The PM will continue to work with allies in the US and France to “coordinate” the response, No.10 said.
Insiders stressed the read-out did not suggest military action was imminent.
But it came as sources in the US claimed Donald Trump was considering strikes on up to eight targets in Syria.
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The White House confirmed last night both Trump and Theresa May spoke on the phone again – but stressed that no decision on Syria had yet been made.
Press secretary Sarah Sanders said: “President Trump just finished a meeting with his National Security team to discuss the situation in Syria.
“No final decision has been made. We are continuing to assess intelligence and are engaged in conversations with our partners and allies.
“The President will speak with President Macron and Prime Minister May this evening.”
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump about Syria this evening.
“They agreed that the Assad regime had established a pattern of dangerous behaviour in relation to the use of chemical weapons.
“They agreed it was vital that the use of chemical weapons did not go unchallenged, and on the need to deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.
“They agreed to keep working closely together on the international response.”
Full statement from Downing Street
This afternoon Cabinet 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.
Following a discussion in which every member present made a contribution, Cabinet agreed it was vital that the use of chemical weapons did not go unchallenged.
Cabinet agreed on the need to take action to alleviate humanitarian distress and to deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.
Cabinet agreed the Prime Minister should continue to work with allies in the United States and France to coordinate an international response.
Separately it was claimed the Ministry of Defence were readying Typhoon jets at RAF base in Cyprus as part of the military effort.
Sources in Westminster suggested strikes were possible this weekend –before Parliament returns from its Easter break on Monday.
Yesterday Brexit Secretary David Davis said the case for military action was clearer this time than in 2013 – when he was among 30 Tories to vote against ex-PM David Cameron’s plan for strikes.
Speaking at a London conference, the Tory veteran said four years ago, there was no intelligence or a proper thought through plan.
He added: “Those two things, I am assured, we’re going to answer today.”
Tory backbenchers also rallied to Theresa May’s side with former Minister Andrew Percy insisted the UK “must not stand on the sidelines”.
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But Julian Lewis, the Tory chair of the cross-party Defence Select Committee, warned the PM she had to secure the backing of Parliament before committing any UK military to the international effort.
He said: “We must be careful we are not sucked in to supporting either monsters on one side, namely the Syrian regime, or maniacs on the other, namely the forces of the uprising, the Syrian rebels who are overwhelmingly led by Islamists and jihadist nutcases.”
Theresa May had paved the way for British action on Wednesday by claiming it was clear Assad was responsible for last weekend’s “barbaric” attack.
Yesterday RAF jets were pictured primed to launch air strikes on Syria - once they get the green light from PM Theresa May.
The PM suggested yesterday that the West has strong proof that Assad is responsible for the deadly chemical attack which killed dozens.
And the Tornados with their deadly payload were seen sitting on the tarmac at their RAF Marham in Norfolk yesterday.
After being given the green light by Cabinet six Typhoon fighter jets armed with air-to-air missiles flew to RAF base Akortiri in Cyprus last night. Preparations are now underway to defend the airbase in Cyprus from a possible Russian counterattack.
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British military action would follow Donald Trump's deceleration yesterday that America was planning to deploy missiles against the Assad regime.
Donald Trump expects to make a decision soon on the US response to a suspected chemical attack in Douma, Syria
The growing tension between Russia and the US is stirring up fears of a second Cold War and there are concerns that UK intervention could worsen relations.
Speaking yesterday in Birmingham Mrs May said: “We are working with our allies, we have been working to get an understanding of what happened on the ground.
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"We are rapidly reaching that understanding.
"All the indications are that the Syrian regime was responsible and we will be working with our closest allies on how we can ensure that those who are responsible are held to account and how we can prevent and deter the humanitarian catastrophe that comes from the use of chemical weapons in the future.
"The continued use of chemical weapons cannot go unchallenged."
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However, Jeremy Corbyn has insisted the government needs MPs’ permission to take military action and that bombing raids would only make the situation worse.
Senior Tories have supported the Labour leader's call for a vote in Parliament.
Backbencher John Baron told the BBC: "If there is going to be significant military intervention then I think parliament has every right to ask questions particularly given our poor track record on previous interventions across the region."
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