Britain and France support Trump in Syria response

Ioana Erdei 13/04/2018 | 11:00

Britain, France and the U.S. united Thursday around broad plans for a military strike against Syria as they worked to bridge differences over the scope and purpose of a coordinated response to a suspected chemical weapons attack, U.S. officials said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

President Bashar al-Assad is warning the West against attacking Syria. Assad said the threats by Western countries against Syria were “on the basis of lies they have fabricated,” denying any responsibility for the suspected chemical attack.

“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 with a high-level Iranian delegation in Damascus.
British Prime Minister Theresa May’s senior ministers agreed on the need for action against Syria, but Downing Street did not specify what measures the UK would take, according to CNN.
May spoke with Trump on 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 statement a Downing Street spokesperson shared with CNN.
“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,” the statement said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier that any French strikes would target chemical facilities in the wake of Saturday’s attack on the city of Douma.

What might France and the UK do?

Macron said France had proof the Syrian regime has used chlorine as a weapon, and told French TV channel TF1 that he was in close discussions with Trump. “Yes, every day since the beginning of the week, our teams are working closely together and we will have decisions to make when the times comes, when we will judge it to be useful and effective,” Macron said.

Macron said earlier this week that France was ready to attack the “chemical capabilities” of the Assad regime.
In London, it was unclear whether May would seek parliamentary support for any UK involvement. May is not required by law to consult the House of Commons, but by convention, members of Parliament expect to be consulted.
In 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron lost a vote on airstrikes on Syria, thwarting an effort then by President Barack Obama to attack the Assad regime.
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