UK PM summons ‘war cabinet’ as military decision on Syria approaches

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, summoned her “war cabinet” on Thursday to discuss a possible military operation in Syria over an alleged chemical weapons attack which killed dozens in eastern Ghouta.

Last night, British media reported that UK submarines had been moved to within striking distance of Syria as a possible strike against Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime approaches.

No details were immediately available about what May had discussed with the war cabinet.

On Wednesday, United States President Donald Trump warned he would fire missiles at the Syrian base where the chemical weapons were launched while Russia said they would intercept any such attack.

The poison gas attack was blamed on the Syrian regime—who Russia backs in the ongoing civil war in the country—and has sparked an aggressive response from the US, the UK, and France who are all opposed to Assad and Moscow’s support for him.

Although she did not explicitly say whether Britain would join America if it decided to engage in further military action against Syria, May stressed on Tuesday that “those responsible should be held to account.”

“This attack that took place in Douma is a barbaric attack,” she added. “Obviously we are working urgently with our allies and partners to assess what has happened on the ground.”

May’s decision has created indifference among other UK officials, notably Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn who urged the government to seek the consent of parliament before any strike.

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, meanwhile, said he defended a military operation without the parliament’s approval.