Prime Minister Theresa May today spoke at length in Parliament on Britain's role in Saturday's air strike on Syria jointly conducted along US and France.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-syria-strikes-british-pm-may-to-face-critical-parliament-130817">British PM had gone ahead </a>with the strikes on Syria without seeking Parliamentary approval&nbsp;leading several lawmakers to question the prime minister's decision.

"This was a limited, targeted strike on a legal basis that has been used before, and it was a decision which required the evaluation of intelligence and information," May told the British parliament.

The British prime minister said she "conscious of the gravity of the decisions" to strike Syria.

"While the action was taken to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Syria by degrading the regime's chemical weapons capability, it will also send a clear message to anyone who believes they can use chemical weapons with impunity," the prime minister declared.

"I am clear the way we protect our national interest is to stand up for the global rules and standards that keep us safe," she to British lawmakers.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, had questioned the legal basis for Britain's involvement.&nbsp;

"We have not done this because President Trump asked us to do so. We have done it because we believed it was the right thing to do and we are not alone," the PM asserted.

Britain later said there are no plans for future strikes against Syria with foreign minister Boris Johnson saying that the strikes were not aimed at regime change in Syria, but rather designed to send a message.

"We have acted because it is in our national interest. It is in our national interest to prevent the further use of chemical weapons in Syria and to uphold and defend the global consensus that these weapons should not be used," May said.

<iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tlkziEG-5AY" width="560"></iframe>

The British prime minister said she "conscious of the gravity of the decisions" to strike Syria.

Prime Minister Theresa May today spoke at length in Parliament on Britain's role in Saturday's air strike on Syria jointly conducted along US and France. The British PM had gone ahead with the strikes on Syria without seeking Parliamentary approval leading several lawmakers to question the prime minister's decision. "This was a limited, targeted strike on a legal basis that has been used before, and it was a decision which required the evaluation of intelligence and information," May told the British parliament. The British prime minister said she "conscious of the gravity of the decisions" to strike Syria. "While the action was taken to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Syria by degrading the regime's chemical weapons capability, it will also send a clear message to anyone who believes they can use chemical weapons with impunity," the prime minister declared. "I am clear the way we protect our national interest is to stand up for the global rules and standards that keep us safe," she to British lawmakers. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, had questioned the legal basis for Britain's involvement. "We have not done this because President Trump asked us to do so. We have done it because we believed it was the right thing to do and we are not alone," the PM asserted. Britain later said there are no plans for future strikes against Syria with foreign minister Boris Johnson saying that the strikes were not aimed at regime change in Syria, but rather designed to send a message. "We have acted because it is in our national interest. It is in our national interest to prevent the further use of chemical weapons in Syria and to uphold and defend the global consensus that these weapons should not be used," May said.

Syria strikes right thing to do, not because Trump asked us to do it: British PM Theresa May

The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles on Saturday targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in&nbsp;Syria, in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in the&nbsp;Syrian town of Douma on April 7.

Here is the information the Western countries say they have about the suspected&nbsp;Syrian poison gas assault on Douma.

Uniterd States

In a conference call with reporters on Saturday, senior U.S. administration officials said they had a large volume of clear and compelling information, both of chemical weapons use and of President Bashar al-Assad's culpability in the attack. "The information we have points to the use of both chlorine and sarin, both of which are chemical weapons," one official said.

The officials said they had videos and photos showing the remnants of at least two chlorine barrel bombs from the attacks with features consistent with chlorine barrel bombs from past attacks. Photographs and video from Douma documented victims suffering from symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals, such as asphyxiation and foaming at the mouth, the officials said.

Eyewitnesses reported multiple government helicopters over Douma on April 7, and said barrel bombs were dropped from those helicopters, the officials said. They said the only forces with military aircraft such as helicopters in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;belong to Assad's government.

Doctors and aid organizations on the ground reported strong smells of chlorine, and described symptoms consistent with exposure to sarin, the senior US officials said.

The officials said that while the available information is much greater on the chlorine use, they also had significant information that also points to use of sarin, which is a nerve agent. Symptoms such as convulsions, in addition to the dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries reported, suggest sarin, which is a much more efficient weapon, they said.

Pentagon officials on Saturday said they "assessed" that there were probably both chemical and nerve agents in the targets U.S. forces hit with missile strikes, but added that they had "successfully mitigated" against this in the way they attacked them.

France

France concluded after technical analysis of open sources and "reliable intelligence" that a chemical attack on Douma on April 7 was carried out by&nbsp;Syrian government forces, a declassified intelligence report said on Saturday.

"On the intelligence collected by our services, and in the absence to date of chemical samples analysed by our own laboratories, France considers, beyond possible doubt, a chemical attack was carried out against civilians at Douma ... and that there is no plausible scenario other than that of an attack by&nbsp;Syrian armed forces," the report said.

"After examining the videos and images of victims published online, they (intelligence services) were able to conclude with a high degree of confidence that the vast majority are recent and not fabricated," the report said.

It said no deaths from mechanical injuries were visible and all symptoms were characteristic of a chemical weapons attack, particularly choking agents and organophosphorus agents or hydrocyanic acid.

"Reliable intelligence indicates that&nbsp;Syrian military officials have coordinated what appears to be the use of chemical weapons containing chlorine on Douma, on April 7," the report said. &nbsp;It gave no other details on the intelligence.

What happens now?

International officials are working to try to confirm the suspected poison gas attack on Douma. Inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW were trying over the weekend to reach sites related to the suspected poison attack in Douma.

The inspectors met&nbsp;Syria's deputy foreign minister in the presence of Russian officers and a senior&nbsp;Syrian security official they were due to attempt to visit the Douma site.

Despite a US-Russian agreement to completely eliminate&nbsp;Syria's chemical weapons program after hundreds of people were gassed with sarin in Ghouta on August 21, 2013, the OPCW had been unable to verify that all manufacturing, storage and research facilities were destroyed.

OPCW stands for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It is to determine whether chemical weapons were used, but will not assign blame.

A United Nations-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism also looked at responsibility for chemical weapons use. It concluded in 2016 that&nbsp;Syrian government forces had several times used chlorine as a chemical weapons, and in 2017 it blamed Assad's government for a sarin attack. It blamed Islamic State militants for mustard gas use.

But the joint UN-OPCW mechanism ended in November 2017 after Russia repeatedly blocked attempts at renewing it. The Security Council is deadlocked over how to replace it.

About 45 human rights and aid groups urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday to appoint a team of independent investigators to determine blame for toxic gas attacks in&nbsp;Syria.

France, the United States and Britain circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council late on Saturday that aims to establish a new independent inquiry into who is to responsible for chemical weapons attacks in&nbsp;Syria.

The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles on Saturday targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria, in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7

The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles on Saturday targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria, in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7. Here is the information the Western countries say they have about the suspected Syrian poison gas assault on Douma. Uniterd States In a conference call with reporters on Saturday, senior U.S. administration officials said they had a large volume of clear and compelling information, both of chemical weapons use and of President Bashar al-Assad's culpability in the attack. "The information we have points to the use of both chlorine and sarin, both of which are chemical weapons," one official said. The officials said they had videos and photos showing the remnants of at least two chlorine barrel bombs from the attacks with features consistent with chlorine barrel bombs from past attacks. Photographs and video from Douma documented victims suffering from symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals, such as asphyxiation and foaming at the mouth, the officials said. Eyewitnesses reported multiple government helicopters over Douma on April 7, and said barrel bombs were dropped from those helicopters, the officials said. They said the only forces with military aircraft such as helicopters in Syria belong to Assad's government. Doctors and aid organizations on the ground reported strong smells of chlorine, and described symptoms consistent with exposure to sarin, the senior US officials said. The officials said that while the available information is much greater on the chlorine use, they also had significant information that also points to use of sarin, which is a nerve agent. Symptoms such as convulsions, in addition to the dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries reported, suggest sarin, which is a much more efficient weapon, they said. Pentagon officials on Saturday said they "assessed" that there were probably both chemical and nerve agents in the targets U.S. forces hit with missile strikes, but added that they had "successfully mitigated" against this in the way they attacked them. France France concluded after technical analysis of open sources and "reliable intelligence" that a chemical attack on Douma on April 7 was carried out by Syrian government forces, a declassified intelligence report said on Saturday. "On the intelligence collected by our services, and in the absence to date of chemical samples analysed by our own laboratories, France considers, beyond possible doubt, a chemical attack was carried out against civilians at Douma ... and that there is no plausible scenario other than that of an attack by Syrian armed forces," the report said. "After examining the videos and images of victims published online, they (intelligence services) were able to conclude with a high degree of confidence that the vast majority are recent and not fabricated," the report said. It said no deaths from mechanical injuries were visible and all symptoms were characteristic of a chemical weapons attack, particularly choking agents and organophosphorus agents or hydrocyanic acid. "Reliable intelligence indicates that Syrian military officials have coordinated what appears to be the use of chemical weapons containing chlorine on Douma, on April 7," the report said. It gave no other details on the intelligence. What happens now? International officials are working to try to confirm the suspected poison gas attack on Douma. Inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW were trying over the weekend to reach sites related to the suspected poison attack in Douma. The inspectors met Syria's deputy foreign minister in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official they were due to attempt to visit the Douma site. Despite a US-Russian agreement to completely eliminate Syria's chemical weapons program after hundreds of people were gassed with sarin in Ghouta on August 21, 2013, the OPCW had been unable to verify that all manufacturing, storage and research facilities were destroyed. OPCW stands for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It is to determine whether chemical weapons were used, but will not assign blame. A United Nations-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism also looked at responsibility for chemical weapons use. It concluded in 2016 that Syrian government forces had several times used chlorine as a chemical weapons, and in 2017 it blamed Assad's government for a sarin attack. It blamed Islamic State militants for mustard gas use. But the joint UN-OPCW mechanism ended in November 2017 after Russia repeatedly blocked attempts at renewing it. The Security Council is deadlocked over how to replace it. About 45 human rights and aid groups urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday to appoint a team of independent investigators to determine blame for toxic gas attacks in Syria. France, the United States and Britain circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council late on Saturday that aims to establish a new independent inquiry into who is to responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

What is known about suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria

Western powers will study "options" if Syria's government again uses chemical weapons, but nothing is planned as yet, Britain's foreign minister said on Sunday, after raids on Syrian targets triggered heated debate over their legality and effectiveness.

US, French and British missile attacks struck at the heart of Syria's chemical weapons programme on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack a week ago, although the restrained assault appeared unlikely to halt Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's progress in the seven-year-old civil war.

The bombing, denounced by Damascus and its allies as an illegal act of aggression, was the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and his powerful ally Russia.

But the three countries said the strikes were limited to Syria's chemical weapons capabilities and not aimed at toppling Assad or intervening in the civil war.

Speaking on British television, British Foreign Secretary (Minister) Boris Johnson threw his weight behind Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to take part in the attack, saying it was the right thing to do to deter further use of chemical weapons.

"There is no proposal on the table at the moment for further attacks because so far thank heavens the Assad regime has not been so foolish as to launch another chemical weapons attack," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

"If and when such a thing were to happen, then clearly with allies we would study what the options were."&nbsp;

His comments appeared in line with those of US&nbsp;ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who said at an emergency meeting of the UN&nbsp;Security Council that Trump told her that if Syria uses poisonous gas again, "The United States is locked and loaded."&nbsp;

The Western countries said the strikes were aimed at preventing more Syrian chemical weapons attacks after a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7 killed up to 75 people. They blame Assad's government for the attack.

But British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said that the legal basis used to support the British role was debatable, adding that he would only support action backed by the United Nations Security Council.

Good mood

"I say to the foreign secretary, I say to the prime minister, where is the legal basis for this?" Corbyn said.

"The legal basis ... would have to be self-defence or the authority of the UN&nbsp;Security Council. The humanitarian intervention is a legally debatable concept at the present time," he said in an interview with the BBC on Sunday.

In Damascus, Assad told a group of visiting Russian lawmakers that Western missile strikes on his country were an act of aggression, Russian news agencies reported.

The agencies quoted the lawmakers as saying Assad was in a "good mood" and had praised the Soviet-era air defence systems used by Syria to help to repel the Western attacks.

Assad accepted an invitation to visit the Siberian region of Khanty-Mansi in Russia. It was not clear when the visit would take place.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump called the operation a success.&nbsp;

He proclaimed on Twitter: "Mission accomplished," echoing former President George W. Bush, whose use of the same phrase in 2003 to describe the US&nbsp;invasion of Iraq was widely ridiculed as violence there dragged on for years.

"We believe that by hitting Barzeh, in particular, we`ve attacked the heart of the Syrian chemicals weapon programme," US&nbsp;Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said at the Pentagon.

Wreckage

However, McKenzie acknowledged elements of the programme remain and he could not guarantee that Syria would be unable to conduct a chemical attack in the future.

Syria released video of the wreckage of a bombed-out research lab, but also of Assad arriving at work as usual, with the caption "Morning of resilience".

There were no immediate reports of casualties.&nbsp;

Late on Saturday Syria time, a large explosion was heard in a Syrian government-controlled area in a rural region south of Aleppo, according to the Britain-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory said the cause of the explosion was unknown, as well as its target.

Russian and Iranian military help over the past three years has allowed Assad to crush the rebel threat to topple him.

The United States, Britain and France have all participated in the Syrian conflict for years, arming rebels, bombing Islamic State fighters and deploying troops on the ground to fight that group. But they have refrained from targeting Assad`s government, apart from a volley of US missiles last year.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the strikes were "unacceptable and lawless."

Syrian state media called them a "flagrant violation of international law," while Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called it a crime and the Western leaders criminals.&nbsp;

Weapons watchdog&nbsp;

Washington described the strike targets as a centre near Damascus for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological weapons a chemical weapons storage site near the city of Homs and another site near Homs that stored chemical weapons equipment and housed a command post.

UN&nbsp;Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all Security Council members to exercise restraint and avoid an escalation in Syria, but said allegations of chemical weapons use demand an investigation.

Inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW were due to try to visit Douma to inspect the site of the suspected gas attack. Moscow condemned the Western states for refusing to wait for their findings.

Russia, whose ties with the West have sunk to levels of Cold War-era hostility, denies any gas attack happened in Douma and even said Britain staged it to whip up anti-Russian hysteria.&nbsp;

Syria agreed in 2013 to give up its chemical weapons after a nerve gas attack killed hundreds of people in Douma. Damascus is still permitted to have chlorine for civilian use, although its use as a weapon is banned. Allegations of Assad's chlorine use have been frequent during the war although, unlike nerve agents, chlorine did not produce mass casualties as seen last week.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The bombing, denounced by Damascus and its allies as an illegal act of aggression, was the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and his powerful ally Russia

Western powers will study "options" if Syria's government again uses chemical weapons, but nothing is planned as yet, Britain's foreign minister said on Sunday, after raids on Syrian targets triggered heated debate over their legality and effectiveness. US, French and British missile attacks struck at the heart of Syria's chemical weapons programme on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack a week ago, although the restrained assault appeared unlikely to halt Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's progress in the seven-year-old civil war. The bombing, denounced by Damascus and its allies as an illegal act of aggression, was the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and his powerful ally Russia. But the three countries said the strikes were limited to Syria's chemical weapons capabilities and not aimed at toppling Assad or intervening in the civil war. Speaking on British television, British Foreign Secretary (Minister) Boris Johnson threw his weight behind Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to take part in the attack, saying it was the right thing to do to deter further use of chemical weapons. "There is no proposal on the table at the moment for further attacks because so far thank heavens the Assad regime has not been so foolish as to launch another chemical weapons attack," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. "If and when such a thing were to happen, then clearly with allies we would study what the options were." His comments appeared in line with those of US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Trump told her that if Syria uses poisonous gas again, "The United States is locked and loaded." The Western countries said the strikes were aimed at preventing more Syrian chemical weapons attacks after a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7 killed up to 75 people. They blame Assad's government for the attack. But British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said that the legal basis used to support the British role was debatable, adding that he would only support action backed by the United Nations Security Council. Good mood "I say to the foreign secretary, I say to the prime minister, where is the legal basis for this?" Corbyn said. "The legal basis ... would have to be self-defence or the authority of the UN Security Council. The humanitarian intervention is a legally debatable concept at the present time," he said in an interview with the BBC on Sunday. In Damascus, Assad told a group of visiting Russian lawmakers that Western missile strikes on his country were an act of aggression, Russian news agencies reported. The agencies quoted the lawmakers as saying Assad was in a "good mood" and had praised the Soviet-era air defence systems used by Syria to help to repel the Western attacks. Assad accepted an invitation to visit the Siberian region of Khanty-Mansi in Russia. It was not clear when the visit would take place. US President Donald Trump called the operation a success. He proclaimed on Twitter: "Mission accomplished," echoing former President George W. Bush, whose use of the same phrase in 2003 to describe the US invasion of Iraq was widely ridiculed as violence there dragged on for years. "We believe that by hitting Barzeh, in particular, we`ve attacked the heart of the Syrian chemicals weapon programme," US Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said at the Pentagon. Wreckage However, McKenzie acknowledged elements of the programme remain and he could not guarantee that Syria would be unable to conduct a chemical attack in the future. Syria released video of the wreckage of a bombed-out research lab, but also of Assad arriving at work as usual, with the caption "Morning of resilience". There were no immediate reports of casualties. Late on Saturday Syria time, a large explosion was heard in a Syrian government-controlled area in a rural region south of Aleppo, according to the Britain-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory said the cause of the explosion was unknown, as well as its target. Russian and Iranian military help over the past three years has allowed Assad to crush the rebel threat to topple him. The United States, Britain and France have all participated in the Syrian conflict for years, arming rebels, bombing Islamic State fighters and deploying troops on the ground to fight that group. But they have refrained from targeting Assad`s government, apart from a volley of US missiles last year. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the strikes were "unacceptable and lawless." Syrian state media called them a "flagrant violation of international law," while Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called it a crime and the Western leaders criminals. Weapons watchdog Washington described the strike targets as a centre near Damascus for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological weapons a chemical weapons storage site near the city of Homs and another site near Homs that stored chemical weapons equipment and housed a command post. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all Security Council members to exercise restraint and avoid an escalation in Syria, but said allegations of chemical weapons use demand an investigation. Inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW were due to try to visit Douma to inspect the site of the suspected gas attack. Moscow condemned the Western states for refusing to wait for their findings. Russia, whose ties with the West have sunk to levels of Cold War-era hostility, denies any gas attack happened in Douma and even said Britain staged it to whip up anti-Russian hysteria. Syria agreed in 2013 to give up its chemical weapons after a nerve gas attack killed hundreds of people in Douma. Damascus is still permitted to have chlorine for civilian use, although its use as a weapon is banned. Allegations of Assad's chlorine use have been frequent during the war although, unlike nerve agents, chlorine did not produce mass casualties as seen last week.

Western powers to study options if Syria chemical weapons used again: UK

The United States said on Saturday it overwhelmed and evaded Syrian air defences overnight to strike every target at the heart of Syria's chemical weapons program, in a multi-pronged attack from the air and sea alongside British and French allies.

Although the operation was secretly unfolding for hours before the first impact, it only took minutes from the first to the last detonation from 105 precision-guided missile strikes on three Syrian chemical weapons targets, officials said.

Marine Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, director of the Joint Staff, rejected assertions from Russia and Syria that scores of the Western missiles were shot down.&nbsp;

He said Russian air defences did not fire, while Syrian air defences were completely ineffective against an attack from multiple directions involving not just US, British and French aircraft but also US&nbsp;naval destroyers, a cruiser and French frigate and even a US&nbsp;submarine.&nbsp;

The Syrian air defences not only missed the incoming missiles but they kept firing even after the last US, British and French strikes were complete. Some of those more than 40 Syrian missile interceptors, he suggested, might have hit civilian targets.

"When you shoot iron into the sky without guidance, it will inevitably fall to earth," McKenzie told reporters.

Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White warned that Russia was actively attempting to sow confusion about the attack.

"The Russian disinformation campaign has already begun. There has been a 2,000 percent increase in Russian trolls in the last 24 hours," White said.

The prime target of the operation was the Barza Research and Development Center in the greater Damascus area, which McKenzie noted was "one of the most heavily defended aerospace areas in the world."

Barza took the brunt of the fire, with 57 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 19 Joint Air to Surface Stand-off missiles.&nbsp;

Though some of Syria's chemical weapons infrastructure was still left, "I think we`ve dealt them a severe blow," McKenzie said, adding it would set the program back for years.

Despite severely damaging the infrastructure with the strikes, McKenzie said the Pentagon would not rule out that the Assad government still had the capability to use such weapons again.

"There's still a residual element of the Syrian program that`s out there," he said.&nbsp;

"I'm not going to say that they're going to be unable to continue to conduct a chemical attack in the future. I suspect, however, they'll think long and hard about it."

Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White warned that Russia was actively attempting to sow confusion about the attack

The United States said on Saturday it overwhelmed and evaded Syrian air defences overnight to strike every target at the heart of Syria's chemical weapons program, in a multi-pronged attack from the air and sea alongside British and French allies. Although the operation was secretly unfolding for hours before the first impact, it only took minutes from the first to the last detonation from 105 precision-guided missile strikes on three Syrian chemical weapons targets, officials said. Marine Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, director of the Joint Staff, rejected assertions from Russia and Syria that scores of the Western missiles were shot down. He said Russian air defences did not fire, while Syrian air defences were completely ineffective against an attack from multiple directions involving not just US, British and French aircraft but also US naval destroyers, a cruiser and French frigate and even a US submarine. The Syrian air defences not only missed the incoming missiles but they kept firing even after the last US, British and French strikes were complete. Some of those more than 40 Syrian missile interceptors, he suggested, might have hit civilian targets. "When you shoot iron into the sky without guidance, it will inevitably fall to earth," McKenzie told reporters. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White warned that Russia was actively attempting to sow confusion about the attack. "The Russian disinformation campaign has already begun. There has been a 2,000 percent increase in Russian trolls in the last 24 hours," White said. The prime target of the operation was the Barza Research and Development Center in the greater Damascus area, which McKenzie noted was "one of the most heavily defended aerospace areas in the world." Barza took the brunt of the fire, with 57 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 19 Joint Air to Surface Stand-off missiles. Though some of Syria's chemical weapons infrastructure was still left, "I think we`ve dealt them a severe blow," McKenzie said, adding it would set the program back for years. Despite severely damaging the infrastructure with the strikes, McKenzie said the Pentagon would not rule out that the Assad government still had the capability to use such weapons again. "There's still a residual element of the Syrian program that`s out there," he said. "I'm not going to say that they're going to be unable to continue to conduct a chemical attack in the future. I suspect, however, they'll think long and hard about it."

US strikes crippled Syria's chemical weapons ability: Pentagon

Turkish foreign ministry has condemned the use of chemical weapons in a rebel-held Syrian town, Douma.

"We strongly condemn the attack, which there is strong suspicion was carried out by the regime, whose record on the use of chemical weapons is known by the international community," the ministry said.

Dozens of people were killed in the chemical attack carried out on the rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta.

Turkey has been working with allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a political resolution to the crisis in Syria. Tayyip Erdogan-led government has also pressed for international action against the attacks in Douma.

"The Syrian regime must give an account for the attacks in various regions of the country at different times," President Erdogan's spokesman noted.

"The entire international community, primarily countries that have an influence on the Syrian regime, has a responsibility to take the necessary steps in order to prevent similar war crimes and crimes against humanity," noted the official statement.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Turkey has been working with allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a political resolution to the crisis in Syria

Turkish foreign ministry has condemned the use of chemical weapons in a rebel-held Syrian town, Douma. "We strongly condemn the attack, which there is strong suspicion was carried out by the regime, whose record on the use of chemical weapons is known by the international community," the ministry said. Dozens of people were killed in the chemical attack carried out on the rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta. Turkey has been working with allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a political resolution to the crisis in Syria. Tayyip Erdogan-led government has also pressed for international action against the attacks in Douma. "The Syrian regime must give an account for the attacks in various regions of the country at different times," President Erdogan's spokesman noted. "The entire international community, primarily countries that have an influence on the Syrian regime, has a responsibility to take the necessary steps in order to prevent similar war crimes and crimes against humanity," noted the official statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey condemns use of chemical weapons in Douma, Syria

Moscow on Sunday rejected claims the Syrian regime used chemical weapons on an opposition holdout in Eastern Ghouta, after the US said Russia bore ultimate responsibility for any attack.&nbsp

"We firmly deny this information," said Major General Yuri Yevtushenko, head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Sides in Syria, in comments reported by news agencies.&nbsp

"We are ready, once Douma is freed from militants, to immediately send Russian specialists in radiation, chemical, and biological defence to collect data that will confirm these claims are fabricated," he added.

'We firmly deny this information,' said Major General Yuri Yevtushenko

Moscow on Sunday rejected claims the Syrian regime used chemical weapons on an opposition holdout in Eastern Ghouta, after the US said Russia bore ultimate responsibility for any attack. "We firmly deny this information," said Major General Yuri Yevtushenko, head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Sides in Syria, in comments reported by news agencies. "We are ready, once Douma is freed from militants, to immediately send Russian specialists in radiation, chemical, and biological defence to collect data that will confirm these claims are fabricated," he added.

Moscow denies claims Syrian regime used chemical weapons in Douma: Reports

The US government today identified a Frenchman named Joe Asperman as a &quot;global terrorist&quot; accusing him of helping the Islamic State.

&quot;French national Joe Asperman is a senior chemical weapons expert for ISIS,&quot; the US State Department said in a statement.

The US listed Asperman as a &quot;Specially Designated Global Terrorist&quot; for overseeing chemical operations production in Syria.

&quot;Asperman oversaw chemical operations production within Syria for ISIS and the deployment of these chemical weapons at the battlefront,&quot; the statement said.

The US Treasury&#39;s list of sanctioned terrorists said Asperman is believed to have been born in Cannes, France between 1986 and 1988.

Along with Asperman, the State Department also designated the Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari, an armed group as an &quot;al Qaeda ally&quot; and &quot;the largest Uzbek fighting force in Syria.&quot;

Along with Asperman, the State Department also designated the Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari, an armed group as an "al Qaeda ally"

The US government today identified a Frenchman named Joe Asperman as a "global terrorist" accusing him of helping the Islamic State. "French national Joe Asperman is a senior chemical weapons expert for ISIS," the US State Department said in a statement. The US listed Asperman as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" for overseeing chemical operations production in Syria. "Asperman oversaw chemical operations production within Syria for ISIS and the deployment of these chemical weapons at the battlefront," the statement said. The US Treasury's list of sanctioned terrorists said Asperman is believed to have been born in Cannes, France between 1986 and 1988. Along with Asperman, the State Department also designated the Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari, an armed group as an "al Qaeda ally" and "the largest Uzbek fighting force in Syria."

IS link in Syria: US names Frenchman Joe Asperman as 'global terrorist'

North Korea denied reports it had cooperated with Syria on chemical weapons, dismissing them as a fabrication by the United States to pressure the country, state media reported late Thursday (March 1).

The state-run television KRT cited a spokesman at the foreign ministry&#39;s research institute of American studies arguing that the United States made a &quot;nonsensical argument&quot; that it helped Syria produce chemical weapons.

&quot;As we have clearly said several times, our republic does not develop, produce and stockpile chemical weapons and opposes chemical weapons themselves,&quot; KRT quoted its foreign ministry.

Two North Korean shipments to a Syrian government agency responsible for the country&#39;s chemical weapons program were intercepted in the past six months, according to a confidential U.N. report on North Korea sanctions violations.

The state-run television KRT cited a spokesman at the foreign ministry's research institute of American studies arguing that the United States made a "nonsensical argument" that it helped Syria produce chemical weapons

North Korea denied reports it had cooperated with Syria on chemical weapons, dismissing them as a fabrication by the United States to pressure the country, state media reported late Thursday (March 1). The state-run television KRT cited a spokesman at the foreign ministry's research institute of American studies arguing that the United States made a "nonsensical argument" that it helped Syria produce chemical weapons. "As we have clearly said several times, our republic does not develop, produce and stockpile chemical weapons and opposes chemical weapons themselves," KRT quoted its foreign ministry. Two North Korean shipments to a Syrian government agency responsible for the country's chemical weapons program were intercepted in the past six months, according to a confidential U.N. report on North Korea sanctions violations.

North Korea denies chemical weapons link with Syria

A senior US&nbsp;disarmament official said on Wednesday that Russia has violated its commitments as guarantor of the destruction of Syria&#39;s chemical weapons stockpile and preventing the Assad government from using them.

Robert Wood, US&nbsp;disarmament ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, told reporters in Geneva shortly before Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the forum: &quot;Russia is is on the wrong side of history with regard to chemical weapons use in Syria.&quot;

Wood, asked about a reported nexus of cooperation between North Korea and Syria, replied: &quot;Clearly there has been a history of a relationship between North Korea and Syria with regard to missile activity, chemical weapons components.&quot;

'Russia is on the wrong side of history with regard to chemical weapons use in Syria,' Robert Wood, US disarmament ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament

A senior US disarmament official said on Wednesday that Russia has violated its commitments as guarantor of the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile and preventing the Assad government from using them. Robert Wood, US disarmament ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, told reporters in Geneva shortly before Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the forum: "Russia is is on the wrong side of history with regard to chemical weapons use in Syria." Wood, asked about a reported nexus of cooperation between North Korea and Syria, replied: "Clearly there has been a history of a relationship between North Korea and Syria with regard to missile activity, chemical weapons components."

US says Russia violating duty to rein in Syria's use of chemical weapons

The world&#39;s chemical weapons watchdog is investigating recent attacks in the besieged, rebel-held Syrian region of eastern Ghouta to determine whether banned munitions were used, sources told Reuters.

The Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) opened an investigation on Sunday into reports of the repeated use of chlorine bombs this month in the district near the Syrian capital, diplomatic sources told Reuters.

Political leaders in France, the United States and the United Kingdom said this month they would back targeted military action against Damascus if there were proof of chemical weapons use by forces under President Bashar al-Assad.

The investigation comes as Russia ordered the establishment of an evacuation corridor and five-hour daily truce to allow residents to leave eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 people are living under siege and bombardment.

Among the attacks the OPCW`s fact-finding team will examine is one on Sunday which local health authorities said killed a child and caused symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine gas, the sources said.

The OPCW did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to discuss the operation in public.&nbsp;

Use of chlorine as a chemical weapons is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. If inhaled, chlorine gas turns into hydrochloric acid in the lungs and the build-up of fluids can drown victims.

The latest OPCW mission is seeking to determine whether chemical weapons were used in violation of the international weapons convention which Syria signed in 2013 after hundreds died in a massive sarin gas attack in Ghouta.&nbsp;

The OPCW will not assign blame.

The team does not intend to travel to Ghouta because of safety concerns - two previous visits by inspectors in 2013 and 2014 were ambushed - but will gather witness testimony, photographic and video evidence, and interview medical experts.

The United States fired 59 cruise missiles at Syria&#39;s Shayrat airbase in April, saying it had been used by Assad&#39;s forces to carry out a sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun that killed more than 80 people, many of them women and children.

Syria and its close ally Russia, which provides military support to Assad&#39;s forces, deny using chemical weapons and blame insurgents.

A U.N.-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism, established by the United Nations to identify those responsible for chemical weapons attacks, concluded in 2016 that Syrian government forces had used chlorine as a chemical weapon in three cases.&nbsp;

It concluded last year that Syrian government forces were also behind the sarin nerve agent attack on Khan Sheikhoun. A renewal of the mission&#39;s mandate was vetoed by Moscow at the UN&nbsp;Security Council.

The use of chemical weapons has become systematic in Syria&#39;s seven-year war, but political rifts between Western powers and Russia have hamstrung the United Nations and the OPCW, leaving them unable to act against violations of international law.

The Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) opened an investigation on Sunday

The world's chemical weapons watchdog is investigating recent attacks in the besieged, rebel-held Syrian region of eastern Ghouta to determine whether banned munitions were used, sources told Reuters. The Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) opened an investigation on Sunday into reports of the repeated use of chlorine bombs this month in the district near the Syrian capital, diplomatic sources told Reuters. Political leaders in France, the United States and the United Kingdom said this month they would back targeted military action against Damascus if there were proof of chemical weapons use by forces under President Bashar al-Assad. The investigation comes as Russia ordered the establishment of an evacuation corridor and five-hour daily truce to allow residents to leave eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 people are living under siege and bombardment. Among the attacks the OPCW`s fact-finding team will examine is one on Sunday which local health authorities said killed a child and caused symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine gas, the sources said. The OPCW did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to discuss the operation in public. Use of chlorine as a chemical weapons is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. If inhaled, chlorine gas turns into hydrochloric acid in the lungs and the build-up of fluids can drown victims. The latest OPCW mission is seeking to determine whether chemical weapons were used in violation of the international weapons convention which Syria signed in 2013 after hundreds died in a massive sarin gas attack in Ghouta. The OPCW will not assign blame. The team does not intend to travel to Ghouta because of safety concerns - two previous visits by inspectors in 2013 and 2014 were ambushed - but will gather witness testimony, photographic and video evidence, and interview medical experts. The United States fired 59 cruise missiles at Syria's Shayrat airbase in April, saying it had been used by Assad's forces to carry out a sarin attack on Khan Sheikhoun that killed more than 80 people, many of them women and children. Syria and its close ally Russia, which provides military support to Assad's forces, deny using chemical weapons and blame insurgents. A U.N.-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism, established by the United Nations to identify those responsible for chemical weapons attacks, concluded in 2016 that Syrian government forces had used chlorine as a chemical weapon in three cases. It concluded last year that Syrian government forces were also behind the sarin nerve agent attack on Khan Sheikhoun. A renewal of the mission's mandate was vetoed by Moscow at the UN Security Council. The use of chemical weapons has become systematic in Syria's seven-year war, but political rifts between Western powers and Russia have hamstrung the United Nations and the OPCW, leaving them unable to act against violations of international law.

Chemical weapons watchdog investigates Ghouta attacks

International investigators have said for the first time that they suspect President Bashar al-Assad and his brother are responsible for the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict, according to a document seen by Reuters.

A joint inquiry for the United Nations and global watchdog the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had previously identified only military units and did not name any commanders or officials.

Now a list has been produced of individuals whom the investigators have linked to a series of chlorine bomb attacks in 2014-15 - including Assad, his younger brother Maher and other high-ranking figures - indicating the decision to use toxic weapons came from the very top, according to a source familiar with the inquiry.&nbsp;

The Assads could not be reached for comment but a Syrian government official said accusations that government forces had used chemical weapons had &quot;no basis in truth&quot;.

The government has repeatedly denied using such weapons during the civil war, which is almost six years old, saying all the attacks highlighted by the inquiry were the work of rebels or the Islamic State militant group.

The list, which has been seen by Reuters but has not been made public, was based on a combination of evidence compiled by the UN-OPCW team in Syria and information from Western and regional intelligence agencies, according to the source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Reuters was unable to independently review the evidence or to verify it.

The UN-OPCW inquiry - known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism - is led by a panel of three independent experts, supported by a team of technical and administrative staff. It is mandated by the UN&nbsp;Security Council to identify individuals and organisations responsible for chemical attacks in Syria.

Virginia Gamba, the head of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, denied any list of individual suspects had yet been compiled by the inquiry.

&quot;There are no ... identification of individuals being considered at this time,&quot; she told Reuters by email.

The use of chemical weapons is banned under international law and could constitute a war crime.

While the inquiry has no judicial powers, any naming of suspects could lead to their prosecution. Syria is not a member of the International Criminal Court, but alleged war crimes could be referred to the court by the Security Council - although splits among global powers over the war make this a distant prospect at present.

The list could form the basis for the inquiry team&#39;s investigations this year, according to the source. It is unclear whether the United Nations or OPCW will publish the list separately.&nbsp;

&#39;Highest levels&#39; 
The list identifies 15 people &quot;to be scrutinised in relation to use of CW (chemical weapons) by Syrian Arab Republic Armed Forces in 2014 and 2015&quot;. It does not specify what role they are suspected of playing, but lists their titles.

It is split into three sections. The first, titled &quot;Inner Circle President&quot; lists six people including Assad, his brother who commands the elite 4th Armoured Division, the defence minister and the head of military intelligence.

The second section names the air force chief as well as four commanders of air force divisions. They include the heads of the 22nd Air Force Division and the 63rd Helicopter Brigade, units that the inquiry has previously said dropped chlorine bombs.&nbsp;

The third part of the list - &quot;Other relevant Senior Mil Personnel&quot; - names two colonels and two major-generals.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, an independent specialist in biological and chemical weapons who monitors Syria, told Reuters the list reflected the military chain of command.&nbsp;

&quot;The decisions would be made at the highest levels initially and then delegated down.&nbsp;Hence the first use would need to be authorised by Assad,&quot; said de Bretton-Gordon, a former commander of British and NATO chemical and biological defence divisions who frequently visits Syria for professional consultancy work.&nbsp;

The Syrian defence ministry and air force could not be reached for comment.&nbsp;

Chlorine barrel bombs 
Syria joined the international Chemical Weapons Convention under a U.S.-Russian deal that followed the deaths of hundreds of civilians in a sarin gas attack in Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus in August 2013.

It was the deadliest use of chemicals in global warfare since the 1988 Halabja massacre at the end of the Iran-Iraq war, which killed at least 5,000 people in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Syrian government, which denied its forces were behind the Ghouta attack, also agreed to hand over its declared stockpile of 1,300 tonnes of toxic weaponry and dismantle its chemical weapons programme under international supervision.

The United Nations and OPCW have been investigating whether Damascus is adhering to its commitments under the agreement, which averted the threat of U.S.-led military intervention.

The bodies appointed the panel of experts to conduct the inquiry, and its mandate runs until November. The panel published a report in October last year which said Syrian government forces used chemical weapons at least three times in 2014-2015 and that Islamic State used mustard gas in 2015.

The October report identified Syria&#39;s 22nd Air Force Division and 63rd Helicopter Brigade as having dropped chlorine bombs and said people &quot;with effective control in the military units ... must be held accountable&quot;.&nbsp;

The source familiar with the inquiry said the October report had clearly established the institutions responsible and that the next step was to go after the individuals.

Washington on Thursday blacklisted 18 senior Syrian officials based on the UN-OPCW inquiry&#39;s October report - some of whom also appear on the list seen by Reuters - but not Assad or his brother.

The issue of chemical weapons use in Syria has become a deeply political one, and the UN-OPCW inquiry&#39;s allegations of chlorine bomb attacks by government forces have split the UN Security Council&#39;s veto-wielding members.

The United States, Britain and France have called for sanctions against Syria, while Assad&#39;s ally Russia has said the evidence presented is insufficient to justify such measures.

A Security Council resolution would be required to bring Assad and other senior Syrian officials before the International Criminal Court for any possible war crimes prosecution - something Russia would likely block.

&nbsp;

(Reuters)

A joint inquiry for the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had previously identified only military units

International investigators have said for the first time that they suspect President Bashar al-Assad and his brother are responsible for the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict, according to a document seen by Reuters. A joint inquiry for the United Nations and global watchdog the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had previously identified only military units and did not name any commanders or officials. Now a list has been produced of individuals whom the investigators have linked to a series of chlorine bomb attacks in 2014-15 - including Assad, his younger brother Maher and other high-ranking figures - indicating the decision to use toxic weapons came from the very top, according to a source familiar with the inquiry. The Assads could not be reached for comment but a Syrian government official said accusations that government forces had used chemical weapons had "no basis in truth". The government has repeatedly denied using such weapons during the civil war, which is almost six years old, saying all the attacks highlighted by the inquiry were the work of rebels or the Islamic State militant group. The list, which has been seen by Reuters but has not been made public, was based on a combination of evidence compiled by the UN-OPCW team in Syria and information from Western and regional intelligence agencies, according to the source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue. Reuters was unable to independently review the evidence or to verify it. The UN-OPCW inquiry - known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism - is led by a panel of three independent experts, supported by a team of technical and administrative staff. It is mandated by the UN Security Council to identify individuals and organisations responsible for chemical attacks in Syria. Virginia Gamba, the head of the Joint Investigative Mechanism, denied any list of individual suspects had yet been compiled by the inquiry. "There are no ... identification of individuals being considered at this time," she told Reuters by email. The use of chemical weapons is banned under international law and could constitute a war crime. While the inquiry has no judicial powers, any naming of suspects could lead to their prosecution. Syria is not a member of the International Criminal Court, but alleged war crimes could be referred to the court by the Security Council - although splits among global powers over the war make this a distant prospect at present. The list could form the basis for the inquiry team's investigations this year, according to the source. It is unclear whether the United Nations or OPCW will publish the list separately. 'Highest levels' The list identifies 15 people "to be scrutinised in relation to use of CW (chemical weapons) by Syrian Arab Republic Armed Forces in 2014 and 2015". It does not specify what role they are suspected of playing, but lists their titles. It is split into three sections. The first, titled "Inner Circle President" lists six people including Assad, his brother who commands the elite 4th Armoured Division, the defence minister and the head of military intelligence. The second section names the air force chief as well as four commanders of air force divisions. They include the heads of the 22nd Air Force Division and the 63rd Helicopter Brigade, units that the inquiry has previously said dropped chlorine bombs. The third part of the list - "Other relevant Senior Mil Personnel" - names two colonels and two major-generals. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, an independent specialist in biological and chemical weapons who monitors Syria, told Reuters the list reflected the military chain of command. "The decisions would be made at the highest levels initially and then delegated down. Hence the first use would need to be authorised by Assad," said de Bretton-Gordon, a former commander of British and NATO chemical and biological defence divisions who frequently visits Syria for professional consultancy work. The Syrian defence ministry and air force could not be reached for comment. Chlorine barrel bombs Syria joined the international Chemical Weapons Convention under a U.S.-Russian deal that followed the deaths of hundreds of civilians in a sarin gas attack in Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus in August 2013. It was the deadliest use of chemicals in global warfare since the 1988 Halabja massacre at the end of the Iran-Iraq war, which killed at least 5,000 people in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Syrian government, which denied its forces were behind the Ghouta attack, also agreed to hand over its declared stockpile of 1,300 tonnes of toxic weaponry and dismantle its chemical weapons programme under international supervision. The United Nations and OPCW have been investigating whether Damascus is adhering to its commitments under the agreement, which averted the threat of U.S.-led military intervention. The bodies appointed the panel of experts to conduct the inquiry, and its mandate runs until November. The panel published a report in October last year which said Syrian government forces used chemical weapons at least three times in 2014-2015 and that Islamic State used mustard gas in 2015. The October report identified Syria's 22nd Air Force Division and 63rd Helicopter Brigade as having dropped chlorine bombs and said people "with effective control in the military units ... must be held accountable". The source familiar with the inquiry said the October report had clearly established the institutions responsible and that the next step was to go after the individuals. Washington on Thursday blacklisted 18 senior Syrian officials based on the UN-OPCW inquiry's October report - some of whom also appear on the list seen by Reuters - but not Assad or his brother. The issue of chemical weapons use in Syria has become a deeply political one, and the UN-OPCW inquiry's allegations of chlorine bomb attacks by government forces have split the UN Security Council's veto-wielding members. The United States, Britain and France have called for sanctions against Syria, while Assad's ally Russia has said the evidence presented is insufficient to justify such measures. A Security Council resolution would be required to bring Assad and other senior Syrian officials before the International Criminal Court for any possible war crimes prosecution - something Russia would likely block. (Reuters)

President Bashar al-Assad linked to Syrian chemical attacks for first time: Report

chemical-weapons

Chemical Weapons, News on Chemical Weapons, stories on Chemical Weapons, articles on Chemical Weapons, Chemical Weapons stories at Wion, Chemical Weapons news, Chemical Weapons latest news