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

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 approvalleading 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.

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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.