Boris Johnson defends ‘standing up for civilised values’ with Syria airstrikes but admits they may not end ‘barbaric’ gas attacks

BORIS Johnson has defended “standing up for civilised values” by launching the Syria airstrikes – but admitted they may not end “barbaric” gas attacks.

British fighter jets joined French and American forces to launch attacks on Friday night in response to dictator Bashar al-Assad’s use of banned chemical weapons.

And the Foreign Secretary last night said the strikes – which targeted three chemical weapons facilities – were about “standing up for principles and for civilized values”.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Boris said: “Unless we act there is a risk of moral contamination, a coarsening and corruption of what we have until now thought to be acceptable.”

But he admitted: “We may not end the barbarism – but we are telling the world that there is one type of barbarism that is banned and that deserves to be banned.”

The strikes came in response to a chemical attack in a rebel-held area of Eastern Ghouta, which saw scores of civilians – including kids – killed, and hundreds more injured.

What we know so far:

• US, UK and French launched airstrikes on Syria in revenge for 'evil' chemical attack
• Pentagon confirms 105 missiles were launched against several facilities
• RAF Tornado jets bomb Syria chemical weapons factory in Homs with Storm Shadow missiles in strikes that saw 105 missiles launched against several facilities
• Tomahawk missiles were fired from a US Navy guided missile destroyer in the Mediterranean, while French military also launched cruise missiles from warship
• Syrian media says three civilians were injured in 'a flagrant violation of international law'
• Trump tweeted that the raid were 'perfectly executed'
• PM Theresa May says the attack was 'absolutely in Britain's national interest'
• Jeremy Corbyn, called the strikes 'legally questionable'
• Putin warns of 'consequences' for an 'act of aggression' that had 'destructive influence on the entire system of international relations'

Boris said: “A significant body of information including intelligence, suggests the Assad regime was behind the chemical attack at Douma that killed about 75 people.

“Multiple accounts located a regime Mi-8 in the vicinity at the time.

“The opposition does not have helicopters and no other actor in the Syrian theatre is thought capable of launching a chemical strike of that scale.”

Theresa May is continuing to talk to world leaders in the wake of the bombing campaign in Syria as the US warned it was "locked and loaded" for fresh strikes.

The Prime Minister, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron hailed the airstrikes a "success".

Four Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s joined the co-ordinated missile strikes at 2am, launching Storm Shadow missiles at a base 15 miles west of Homs.

At the same American Forces deployed B-1B Lancer bombers from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Tomahawk missiles also blasted off from the guided missile destroyer USS Monterey anchored in the Mediterranean.

France used Mirage and Rafale fighter jets, from a base in Jordan, and four of its frigate warships fired off 12 cruise missiles.

Meanwhile, Russia lost its bid to secure a resolution at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council condemning the "aggression" in Syria.

The PM has not ruled out fresh action if Bashar Assad's regime continues to attack its own people.

Mrs May insisted the decision to deploy British cruise missiles in response to the chemical attack in Douma was "both right and legal".

Nato has also supported the actions of the allies.

Nato Secretary General Jen Stoltenberg said: "I support the actions taken by the United States, the United Kingdom and France against the Syrian regime's chemical weapons facilities and capabilities.

"This will reduce the regime's ability to further attack the people of Syria with chemical weapons.

"Nato has consistently condemned Syria's continued use of chemical weapons as a clear breach of international norms and agreements.

"The use of chemical weapons is unacceptable, and those responsible must be held accountable."

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