France Has Proof That Assad's Regime Used Chemical Weapons

Macon says France has proof the Syrian government used chemical weapons in the city of Douma #tictocnews (Source: Bloomberg)</s>The British government on Thursday agreed on the "need to take action" over a chemical weapons attack in Syria, Prime Minister Theresa May's office said.

"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," Downing Street said after May met her top team.

Ministers "agreed the prime minister should continue to work with allies in the United States and France to coordinate an international response," May's office added.

The London meeting came as U.S. President Donald Trump weighed his military options and France warned it had "proof" the Syrian regime had used chemical weapons.

Pressure has been growing on Bashar Al-Assad's regime and its Russian backers since an alleged chemical attack on Saturday against the rebel-held town of Douma.

The British government said the deadly raid was "a shocking and barbaric act" which killed people "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," Downing Street said.</s>(CNN) The British government has signaled it is ready to back US military action against Syria, saying it is "highly likely" the Assad regime used chemical weapons on its own people and that such action could not go unchallenged.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's senior ministers agreed on the need for action at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, but Downing Street did not specify what measures the UK would take.

Ministers said there was need to "deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime," and alleviate the humanitarian situation, a Downing Street statement said.

According to the statement, May described the attack as a "shocking and barbaric act which killed up to 75 people, including children, in the most appalling and inhumane way." Britain would work with United States and France to coordinate an international response, the statement said.

May spoke with US President Trump Thursday night about the international response to Syria, and they "agreed that the Assad regime had established a pattern of dangerous behavior in relation to the use of chemical weapons," according to a Downing Street statement.

Earlier on Thursday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned the West against attacking Syria, saying accusations about the suspected chemical attack on Douma were "fabricated."

French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that France had "proof" the Assad regime used chemical weapons in Douma at the weekend, and would support any US action. He said earlier this week that France was ready to attack the "chemical capabilities" of the Assad regime.

Trump has sent mixed messages on his country's readiness to act. On Wednesday, Trump appeared to suggest airstrikes were imminent, warning Russia, Syria's key ally, to "get ready" for military action. But after being criticized for apparently telegraphing US intentions, Trump on Thursday attempted to blur the timing of any potential airstrikes on Syria.

"Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!" he tweeted, without ruling out attacks.

Any potential strike against Syria could be carried out by extensive US and UK military assets already in the region, including two US Navy destroyers armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles . British media reported Wednesday that May has also ordered British submarines to move within missile range of Syria.

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International warnings

The suspected use of chemical weapons has drawn the West back into Syria's seven-year conflict. There are concerns, however, that further international intervention risks a confrontation between Russia and the United States. Russia has provided Assad with strong military backing.

Speaking Thursday, Assad issued a strong warning about strikes against Syria.

"Any possible action will only cause more instability in the region and threaten international security and peace," Syrian state TV quoted Assad as saying at a meeting Thursday with a high-level Iranian delegation in Damascus.

Russia has called for a United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria on Friday. Earlier on Thursday, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, said that he believes any strike against Syria would violate the UN charter.

"We hope that there will be no point of no return, that the US and the allies will refrain from military action against sovereign states," he said.

While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned Assad for killing "innocent kids in the Douma chemical attack," he also warned against using Syria as a place to flex military muscle.

Assad regime has 'track record' of using chemical weapons

The UK Cabinet agreed Thursday "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," according to the Downing Street statement.

"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," the spokesperson added.

Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have also expressed concern about the "erosion" of the international ban on chemical weapons, and have spoke to each other on the matter, according to a German government statement Thursday.

Merkel has however ruled out joining any possible strikes against Syria. Speaking Thursday, Merkel said that the "whole spectrum of measures must be considered" when responding to the use of chemical weapons, adding: "Germany will support all activities with the UN security council."

It remains unclear whether May would seek parliamentary support for any UK involvement in airstrikes. May is not required by law to consult the House of Commons, but by convention, members of Parliament expect to be consulted.

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Fact-finding mission to start soon

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons tweeted Thursday that a team of its investigators will start work Saturday in Douma. Earlier, Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, told reporters in New York that those investigators were to arrive Thursday and Friday.

According to state-run Syrian News Agency (SANA), an official source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that the government will cooperate fully with the OPCW fact-finding mission and that it would hold the West responsible for any delays in that mission.

Both the United States and Russia blocked proposals this week at the UN Security Council for independent investigations.

The World Health Organization estimated Wednesday that about 500 people could have been affected by the suspected chemical attack in Douma, citing reports from its health partners on the ground.

In a statement Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the Security Council to reach an agreement on the "continued use of chemical weapons" in Syria and cautioned the situation could quickly spiral out of control if it didn't.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the title of French President Emmanuel Macron.</s>Following an emergency Cabinet session, the British government called the Douma incident “a shocking and barbaric act” likely perpetrated by Damascus, and pledged to “coordinate an international response."

"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,” a statement from Downing Street said, using the same phrase it deployed following the Sergei Skripal poisoning last month.

The statement left the path clear for both a peaceful and military resolution.

“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,” it said.

It also suggested that Prime Minister Theresa May will continue to lead the West’s next move together with its “allies,” US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. All three have exchanged calls and issued the loudest condemnations over the past week.

Several hours before, Macron told a TV interviewer that he has “evidence” of the Syrian government’s culpability for Douma. On Wednesday, Trump appeared to suggest that an airstrike inside Syria was imminent, but on Thursday he appeared to take a more ambiguous tone, suggesting in a tweet than an attack could happen “very soon or not so soon at all.”

READ MORE: OPCW team arrives in Syria to investigate alleged attack

Meanwhile, Russia and Syria, which says that it was not to blame and that much of the evidence was fabricated, have insisted that international parties wait at least until the conclusion from chemical weapons experts. An OPCW team is set to start its investigation in Douma on Saturday.

Moscow has also appealed for a diplomatic way out of the impasse, but three different resolutions that were put forward in the United Nations Security Council this week were vetoed.</s>LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May agree on the need to find an international response to deter the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the British prime minister’s office said on Thursday.

Trump and May spoke after May’s senior ministers gave her their backing to take unspecified action with the United States and France to tackle the use of chemical weapons by the government of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.

“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,” May’s office said in a statement after the two leaders spoke.

“They agreed to keep working closely together on the international response,” the statement added.</s>LONDON, April 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May agree on the need to find an international response to deter the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the British prime minister's office said on Thursday.

Trump and May spoke after May's senior ministers gave her their backing to take unspecified action with the United States and France to tackle the use of chemical weapons by the government of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

"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," May's office said in a statement after the two leaders spoke.

"They agreed to keep working closely together on the international response," the statement added. (Reporting by David Milliken, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)</s>LONDON - US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May agree on the need to find an international response to deter the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the British prime minister's office said on Thursday.



Trump and May spoke after May's senior ministers gave her their backing to take unspecified action with the United States and France to tackle the use of chemical weapons by the government of Syria's President Bashar Assad.



"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," May's office said in a statement after the two leaders spoke.



"They agreed to keep working closely together on the international response," the statement added.</s>The British government has signaled it is ready to back US military action against Syria, saying it was "highly likely" the Assad regime used chemical weapons on its own people and that such action could not go unchallenged.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's senior ministers agreed on the need for action at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, but Downing Street did not specify what measures the UK would take.

Ministers said there was need to "deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime," and alleviate the humanitarian situation, a Downing Street statement said.

"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 statement said.

"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," the spokesperson added. Britain would work with United States and France to coordinate an international response, the statement said. French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron claimed earlier that France had "proof" the Assad regime used chemical weapons in Douma at the weekend, and would support any US action. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad earlier warned the West against attacking Syria, saying accusations about the suspected chemical attack on Douma were "fabricated." "Any possible action will only cause more instability in the region and threaten international security and peace," Syrian state TV quoted Assad as saying at a meeting Thursday with a high-level Iranian delegation in Damascus. On Wednesday, Trump appeared to suggest airstrikes were imminent, warning Russia, Syria's key ally, to "get ready" for military action. But after being criticized for apparently telegraphing US intentions, Trump on Thursday attempted to blur the timing of any potential airstrikes on Syria. "Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!" he tweeted, without ruling out attacks.</s>Milena Veselinovic and Judith Vonberg, CNN - The British government has signaled it is ready to back US military action against Syria, saying it is "highly likely" the Assad regime used chemical weapons on its own people and that such action could not go unchallenged.

According to the statement, May described the attack as a "shocking and barbaric act which killed up to 75 people, including children, in the most appalling and inhumane way." Britain would work with United States and France to coordinate an international response, the statement said.

May spoke with US President Trump Thursday night about the international response to Syria, and they "agreed that the Assad regime had established a pattern of dangerous behavior in relation to the use of chemical weapons," according to a Downing Street statement.

French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron claimed that France had "proof" the Assad regime used chemical weapons in Douma at the weekend, and would support any US action. He said earlier this week that France was ready to attack the "chemical capabilities" of the Assad regime.

Trump has sent mixed messages on his country's readiness to act. On Wednesday, Trump appeared to suggest airstrikes were imminent, warning Russia, Syria's key ally, to "get ready" for military action. But after being criticized for apparently telegraphing US intentions, Trump on Thursday attempted to blur the timing of any potential airstrikes on Syria.

"Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!" he tweeted, without ruling out attacks.

Any potential strike against Syria could be carried out by extensive US and UK military assets already in the region, including two US Navy destroyers armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles. British media reported Wednesday that May has also ordered British submarines to move within missile range of Syria.

The suspected use of chemical weapons has drawn the West back into Syria's seven-year conflict. There are concerns, however, that further international intervention risks a confrontation between Russia and the United States. Russia has provided Assad with strong military backing.

"Any possible action will only cause more instability in the region and threaten international security and peace," Syrian state TV quoted Assad as saying at a meeting Thursday with a high-level Iranian delegation in Damascus.

Russia has called for a United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria on Friday. Earlier on Thursday, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, said that he believes any strike against Syria would violate the UN charter.

"We hope that there will be no point of no return, that the US and the allies will refrain from military action against sovereign states," he said.

Assad regime has 'track record' of using chemical weapons

The UK Cabinet agreed Thursday "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," according to the Downing Street statement.

"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," the spokesperson added.

Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have also expressed concern about the "erosion" of the international ban on chemical weapons, and have spoke to each other on the matter, according to a German government statement Thursday.

Merkel has however ruled out joining any possible strikes against Syria. Speaking Thursday, Merkel said that the "whole spectrum of measures must be considered" when responding to the use of chemical weapons, adding: "Germany will support all activities with the UN security council."

It remains unclear whether May would seek parliamentary support for any UK involvement in airstrikes. May is not required by law to consult the House of Commons, but by convention, members of Parliament expect to be consulted.</s>
• The UK says the world must “take action” againsy Syria following a suspected chemical weapons attack.
• The British government believes it is “highly likely” the Assad regime was behind the attack that left 75 people dead.
• Prime Minister Theresa May says the UK will work with the US and France to coordinate a response.

Theresa May’s government has called on the world to “take action” against the Assad regime in Syria over a chemical weapons attack – but stopped short of announcing specific military action, saying it will work with international allies to formulate a response.

In a statement, the Cabinet said it was “highly likely” that the Assad regime in Syria was behind the attack which has left 75 people dead.

“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,” the statement said.

“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.”

May’s Cabinet met for over two hours in Downing Street before coming to a final agreement.

Downing Street’s statement came as President Trump rowed back from his earlier suggestions that America would launch an imminent attack on Syria, tweeting that any strikes “could be very soon or not so soon at all!”.

He later told reporters that a decision would be made “fairly soon,” adding that “we’re looking very seriously and very closely at that whole situation and we’ll see what happens folks”.

The US defence secretary, James Mattis also indicated that the US is still considering its options, telling the House armed services committee that the administration’ main concern about a military response was to prevent the Syria conflict “escalating out of control”.

Any militiary action by May would be highly divisive in both the UK parliament and among the UK public.

One opinion poll released on Monday found that just one in five members of the public supported an attack.

The YouGov poll found that 22% of Brits support military action in Syria, while 43% oppose it.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also today all but ruled out backing UK military action against Syria, saying that “more bombing, more killing, more war will not save life” in Syria.

Corbyn warned that any attack could trigger a wider conflict with Russia.

“The dangers of bombing now, which could escalate the conflict beyond belief … Just imagine the scenario if an American missile shoots down a Russian plane or vice versa. Where do we go from there?”

He added that he was “not in favour of increasing military action in Syria; what I’m in favour of is a political process to bring about peace.”

Here’s the full statement from the Cabinet meeting:
The British government issues a statement saying it is "highly likely" the Assad regime used chemical weapons on its own people, and that since such an action could not go unchallenged, Britain would work with United States and France to coordinate an international response, without specifying what measures the United Kingdom would take.