this is bbc news. i'm matthew price, live in beirut. britain, the us and france have bombed multiple government targets against president assad in syria. three alleged chemical sites were targeted in an overnight operation — the biggest show of force against the man donald trump described as a "monster" i ordered the united states armed forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of syrian dictator bashar al—assad. four british tornado jets were involved in the operation — theresa may said there was "no practicable alternative to the use of force". we cannot allow the use of chemical wepaons to become normalised, either in syria, on the streets of the uk or elsewhere. russia has condemned the strikes as an act of aggression,

and called for an urgent meeting of the un security council. hello from beirut. you are watching bbc news. it is about ten hours now since the first missiles started to strike targets in syria. damascus, the capital, is a couple of hours down the road. across the hills behind me. it was the us, french and british action that they had threatened all week, and which they finally carried out in the early hours. 110 or thereabouts missiles

fired, more than twice the number that the americans fired into a syrian air base about this time last year. donald trump us that there will be sustained action, both military, to thematic and indeed economic. however, his defence secretary, james mathis, described last night's bombing as a one night shot. the pentagon said they hit a scientific research facility in the capital as well as two locations near the city of comms. theresa may said the attacks were designed to deter all use of chemical weapons, not just by deter all use of chemical weapons, notjust by syria but globally. —— the city of homs. she said there cannot be a normalisation of the use of chemical weapons, and that there was no practicable alternative to the use of force. officials on both sides of the atlantic say the action has been a success. my colleague andy moore now reports. cruise missiles laumched from a french warship last night.

france said 12 were fired, and there was no indication they'd been intercepted. with afterburners glowing, and loaded glowing, with storm shadow cruise missiles, four raf tornadoes take to the skies as britain's contribution to the raids. their target, a bunker and command post near the city of homs, believed to be the location of stockpiled syrian supplies. in the syrian capital, damascus, the target was a research laboratory. the skies above the city lit up with incoming missiles, and the interceptor rockets fired in retaliation. night—vision footage appears to show at least one being hit. syria claims 13 were destroyed before reaching their targets. last night's strikes by the us, the uk and france were significantly larger than the us action a year ago, and specifically designed to have a greater impact on the regime's capability and willingness to use

chemical weapons. this collective action sends a clear message that the international community will not stand by and tolerate the use of chemical weapons. the raids targeted locations on the outskirts of the syrian capital damascus and homs. in washington, president trump sent this message to syria's allies iran and russia. what kind of nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children? the nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. no nation can succeed in the long run by promoting rogue states, brutal tyrants and murderous dictators. russia said such actions would not be without consequences. in a briefing, the russian military said 103 missiles had been launched, 73 had been shot down.

a spokesman said his country was now considering supplying syria — and other countries — with the s300 defensive missile system. syrian television showed these pictures of what was said to be he said the overnight raids only increased his resolve to fight and crush terrorism in every inch of his country. syrian television showed these pictures of what was said to be damage caused by one of the missiles strikes against homs. three civilians were said to have been injured. on the streets of damascus, there was defiance this morning. this man said the enemy missiles were destroyed in the syrian skies, and his country had not been affected in any way. the us, britain and france said the aim of the strikes was to destroy syria's chemical weapons, not its regime. andy moore, bbc news. we sought president assad walking

slowly and carefully into the presidential palace. trying to give an image of business as usual? very much so. earlier in the week, he perhaps would have been very worried that if the military action had much the rhetoric, it could have been very serious. we appears you have seen surgical precise strikes, but he has been speaking at that these are strikes increased his resolve to continue fighting and crushing

terrorism in every inch of the nation. he says the fight goes on. he has been punished for using chemical weapons, that doesn't mean he can't use are strikes as well as holders on the ground. although there are varying accounts as to how many missiles were shot as of the air, the syrians say they might have got quite a few of them, the russians say they got 70 hours of 100. varying accounts on that but not really on the civilian damage. no, that's interesting. varying accou nts no, that's interesting. varying a ccou nts of no, that's interesting. varying accounts of damage done to infrastructure. in terms of civilian casualties, the only report we have had is that three civilians were injured and that was in a facility close to homs. other than that, no reports whatsoever. the syrians are saying very similar figures from the us and the british as well. where does this go now as far as the is concerned? i think we just heard,

the fight will continue. all the comments we have heard from world leaders, they have been saying this is not about syria, not about regime change, not about changing the course of the war, it's about drawing the red line on chemical weapons. implicitly, they're saying don't use chemical weapons but the work and go on, can continue as you write. a question about lebanon and the wider region, you live here, you we re the wider region, you live here, you were telling me earlier in the week that one of your neighbours was expressing a bit of concern about where all this was heading. it's not as if life ground to a halt here in beirut as we know. but there was concern. that concern now listed? in some respects, yes. from an immediate response to this military reaction force the earlier in the week, we had an allegedly is air strike on a base which killed a rally in personnel. we have talked a

lot about russia and america but there is another dynamic at play here and that is run. iran versus israel. that is a very dangerous dynamic. iran on the ground in syria and israel not happy about that. thank you forjoining us here in beirut. our correspondent barbara plett usher is in washington. i want to clarify what is being sad and prepare the moments. you have donald trump saying this was all pa rt donald trump saying this was all part of a sustained effort to stop chemical weapons being used by bashar al—assad. the syrians deny that they have been using them. and by education, the location that many picks up one was that that would mean the military strikes might go on. then you had the defence secretary james matters saying on. then you had the defence secretaryjames matters saying no, this was a one—time shop. what can we read into what bad? are certainly was a difference in emphasis. resident trump talks about their being a sustained campaign until

president trump —— president assad stopped using chemical weapons. although he didn't suggest it would be only military, he also talks about economic and to thematic factors. and then general matters saying this is a one—time shots, we think we have sent a strong message. when asked whether military action would continue, he said it depends on president assad, should he decide to use more chemical weapons in the future. i did he left the door open for future military strikes that there are more chemical weapons attacks. —— i think he left the door open. there is a divide between the white house and the pentagon on how had to go win. we heard that president trump wanted a more aggressive campaign. general matters was clearly concerned about escalation on the ground, especially with russian forces there. he told the committee on capitol hill this week that he did not want to trigger —— trigger an escalation that got out of control. they emphasised that

they had chosen the targets very carefully so that no foreign, there would be no foreign casualties. he was more cautious. both he and the president did emphasise the limited nature of this operation, that it was just about targeting president assad's chemical weapons facilities and capabilities, and not about anything wider, not about the civil war regime change. as also did the allies britain and france. you know this region well, you lived here for many years. you know syria well. you heard what martin just said about the reaction in damascus today. which appears to be summed up by that image of president assad walking into the presidential palace, merely an image they wanted to show to the country and the world of business as usual. bearing that image and minds and the source of, you can almost hear the sigh of relief here, across the way from

syria, bearing that in mind, does the white house, does washington, dc believe it has achieved anything? again, from the briefing we got yesterday, general stanford acknowledged that they have not taken out all of president assad's chemical weapons capable as he is. he said there were other targets which they had not struck because of the calculation of the risk, because they were in areas were civilians might be killed or because they were in areas where other forces might be targeted. they knew the limited nature of its poppy have stressed that it was wider than the attack they conducted last year, which was a source of one attack against a syrian air base in april area. they emphasised those things that i think everyone here is where that the calculation is very difficult. they want to do something strong enough deterrent further chemical weapons use, and yet the battlefield

is so, located that they have to be very careful about using force, especially because they have made very clear that they do not want to get involved in a civil war, as the americans say they don't want to put any skin into that game. they have been laser focused in their participation so far. now try to focus just on this chemical weapons availability because of the locations of violating the chemical weapons convention. but if general matters is serious about leaving the door open to further military strikes, that could also leave the door open to getting drawn in will stop especially if president assad causes bluff and i think that was probably the message that mr assad was standing by walking around the area today. i wasjust going to say that. presumably, the ball is in damascus's courts. thank you for joining us from washington. i think

we can go to moscow now to hear what the kremlin has been saying about all this. the kremlin condemning this, they have called an urgent meeting of the rather hamstrung un security council. reading between the lines, what is going on? are they as angry behind the scenes as they as angry behind the scenes as they are in public? in public they are certainly very angry. we have heard from the russian ambassador to the united dates this morning talking about unspecified consequences of the strikes. vladimir putin has put out a statement in the last couple of hours calling the strikes are acts of aggression against a sovereign state that would indulge the terrorists who have been tormenting the syrian people from seven years. and that the actions of the united states further exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in syria. angry words that i think in private, behind closed doors, i think the

russians will be breathing something ofa sigh russians will be breathing something of a sigh of relief. of course the fear in the build—up to these strikes taking place had been that might be some sort of military contacts between the united states and russia. russia, of course, has forces on the ground, has a naval base. but it has been pretty clear from the information coming out of the mystery of defence that there was no contact between the strike and the russian forces on the ground. that the russian anti—defence, anti—missile system was not engaged in any way against these missiles that were coming in. those fears that this strike might lead to an escalation in tension between the us and russia, and perhaps even pressure on russia to respond in a military way, but has not come to pass. it's interesting to get clarification as to whether the russians did engage any of these missiles. we know that in britain, there was a pull out of the last few

days that heard about a fifth of the british public, only one fifth, reported military reaction force around four fifths said they did not wa nt around four fifths said they did not want it to happen. there is no appetite for it. we know in the united states, there are large sections of the population who also have no appetite for this. i'm wondering whether it is possible to characterise the russian population in terms of the way the president putin and the kremlin is approaching this crisis. i think you have to first look at how it has been covered here and have the build—up to it being covered has played out on russian television. lots of people still get their information from the tv here. and the story that they have been told over the last week or so is that the russian government line, very much that this is something that has been staged, a provocation and that it isn't as it is being described by much of the

west ‘s as a chemical attack that has been perpetrated by the assad government's —— in syria. i think you will find that many people here are still hugely supportive of what the russian government is doing, because they have been fed over the last week or so is repeated message that there is a conspiracy against russia to put russia in a bad place both in relation to what's happening in syria and also the street —— the poisoning in the united kingdom, but this all falls into that big picture of the west being out to get russia. in that context, people being told that, many people will be wholeheartedly behind the russian government position today. thank you. we will leave it there. my cbs colleague seth doan is in damascus. thank you so much forjoining us on

this incredibly busy day for you. can you categorise the mood in damascus at the moment? might surprise you that the mood is surprisingly calm. we were just having over to one of the areas, driving past that research facility that was bombed early in the morning. we spoke with a number of people lined up getting bread and groceries. they said they were jolted awake around for a, they had a number of very loud bugs, but they said they could not fall back asleep. they said in many ways they have gotte n asleep. they said in many ways they have gotten used to these type of sounds, the sound of air strikes, over the last seven plus years. we have been on the ground here in damascus for a couple of days. in the lead up, there was almost a nonchalance, in disbelief that these strikes would indeed take place. many people questioned the basis for them altogether. many of us in the

capital city, damascus, were jolted awake around for a. we were standing on this balcony and hearing these loud sobs, these loud booms, almost sounded like thunder. it was almost like thunder emanating from the horizon. you mentioned that you went to see one of the facility that was hit. what did you see? can you categorise the kind of damage? can you give us any analysis about the degradation of the facility? we were driving around that facility and is trying to get in, talking with people, but we were unable to get in because of checkpoints and various television commitments. we have seen images inside of the devastation. those buildings, that building appears to be completely destroyed. in the pictures that have been released on syrian television early this morning. unbelievably, the

neighbour is relatively unfazed. people described opening the windows seven windows would not burst, but watching the kind of display in the sky as we watched. it was interesting to be listening to president trump speak in one ear and looking out over this city, watching asi looking out over this city, watching as i aircraft fire and also seeing 01’ as i aircraft fire and also seeing or hearing those air strikes hit their targets around damascus. i'm sure it really was. ijust want their targets around damascus. i'm sure it really was. i just want to finally ask, as you know, the white house, downing street, really is a palace in france, have all said they believe these strikes were successful, that they sent a clear message to president assad that the use of chemical weapons, which the syrians deny having used over the last week, is unacceptable and they will not tolerate it. is there a nyway of will not tolerate it. is there anyway of characterising whether

that message genuinely has got through, or perhaps just that message genuinely has got through, or perhapsjust president assad, as we saw in some footer graphs of him looking rather nonchalance, going into the presidential palace today, come see feels he might have been left off the hook? absolutely. the spin machines are working in all countries. those pictures released this morning from the syrian presidency that showed president assad appearing unfazed, walking into rebuilding. almost nonchalance, the words you used. that obviously trying to betray an image of not being particularly bothered, not being particularly bothered, not being deterrent by these strikes. we have also heard spin from their opposition, the rebels who have reportedly said that these strikes arejust a reportedly said that these strikes are just a forest as long as president assad stays in power. —— a facade. the syrians have been

through so much, they have been fighting over the years. with the last seven plus years in this most recent conflicts. senior official said if there is only one assyrian left, that syrian will fight from syria until the last drop of blood. certainly defiance less on the streets, a defiant mood here in damascus today. —— if there is only one syrian labs. thank you forjoining us live from damascus. i will let you get on with your busy day. it's interesting what he was saying about the supporters of president assad in the streets of damascus. i have been talking to someone damascus. i have been talking to someone who is not a supporter of president assad. a young man who does not want his name used. he is a syrian who left the country couple of years ago. he is planning to head back. he told me a little bit

earlier that while he does not support the strikes, you're also does not want to see president assad stay in power for any longer. does not want to see president assad stay in powerfor any longer. there are two competing narratives here. multiple competing narratives. from damascus, one of the places where, from where this coalition air force launched, and our correspondent colleague for us in the, in cyprus and the british base there. jonathan, british warplanes are just a small number of launching relatively limited number of missiles. not targeted at damascus to whom we were just speaking, but targeted further north. yes, andrew member they have been flying operations, the eight were made of jazz, six typhoons, based here in cyprus for the last three years against islamic state targets in iraq and syria. —— yes, and

remember. they loaded the tornadoes, those four tornadoes, with or shadow cruise missiles. they would have been flying well out of syrian airspace to avoid there are defences when they fired those missiles, which have a range of 300 miles. the target was an old missiles base 15 miles west of homs were they believe the assad regime were storing the precursors of chemical weapons but could have been used in attacks. the initial reports from those strikes, four of the storm shadow cruise missiles fired was that it was a success. we are not getting any confirmation from the mod as to whether they all hit their target, but the belief is updated, despite those claims from the syrian regime that they fired down a lot of the missiles that were fired last night. those four tornadoes are back here. they will still continue those

missions against islamic state back to normal if you like. do you get any impression, we have been talking through the programme about the us defence secretary saying that is it for now in terms of military action. is that the impression you are given? you say the tornadoes have other missions to go on, but is that the impression you were given there? it certainly is. we have been told of no more specific operations, and nor would we, giving military plans close to their chests. even though they did telegraph that this attack was coming. but no suggestion there will be any more targets. it's very much in line with what general matters has been saying from the pentagon. but clearly these strikes, if they don't work at the syrian regime used chemical weapons again, the option of these kinds of strikes

would be back there on the table. i don't think anyone is ruling out the possibility of this ever happening again, but the sense for this moment is that it is over. britain played probably the smallest role of these three countries involved in the strikes, with four missiles fired, less tha n strikes, with four missiles fired, less than the french, certainly less than the americans. you have to factor into that the political difficulties theresa may would have back home of making this decision to carry out military reaction force whilst the robots of mps, particularly on the opposition benches, who thought they should have consulted parliament first. —— whilst there were lots of mps. we will leave it there. but pick up on that thought with norman smith outside downing street. jonathan talks about the british involvement being the smallest of the three countries. that's possibly is a reflection of the fact that theresa may knows she has not got

parliamentary approval or popular approval, if we believe the polling that has been done. why did she decide to be part of this?” that has been done. why did she decide to be part of this? i think there are a number of reasons. one is quite simply a view that a message had to be sent. the british government has always been at the forefront of trying to uphold international law, log regarding chemical weapons. i think another factor is a desire to show britain is still a country with clout in the world. and that we would not stand aside while america and france got involved in military action. i thought perhaps the most striking thing from the words we heard from her today was the attempts to try and reassure people that we are not getting sucked into some much broader conflict. stressing this was a very limited, spoke attack designed simply to degrade president attack —— president assad's chemical

weapons stocks. —— eber spoke attack. i will follow a number of people at court challenges. already jeremy corbyn is questioning the legality of these are strikes. i assume because there was no un authorisation. downing street saying they will publish the legal advice they will publish the legal advice the government received this afternoon. i expect that will focus on the breach of international rules regarding chemical weapons. a second area of controversy obviously will focus on the lack of parliamentary approvalfor focus on the lack of parliamentary approval for these focus on the lack of parliamentary approvalfor these are focus on the lack of parliamentary approval for these are strikes. while it is true, there is no constitutional or legal obligation on mrs may, nevertheless, there is significant political pressure and political precedents to hold a boat. interestingly, mrs may foley is signalling she is not minded to hold a retrospective boat when she addresses mps on monday. that too will be a subject of controversy. lastly, i think there will be

controversy lastly, i think there will be co ntrove i’sy over lastly, i think there will be controversy over how far this strike has exceeded in its central objective of the terry resident assad ‘s, because it has been a very limited strike. —— deterrent president assad. a number of missiles being shot down by the syrians which might have further limited scope. there is a question about how much impact it might actually have hand. a number of significant little? surrounding last my‘s attacks. significant little? surrounding last my's attacks. -- significant questions surrounding last night's attacks. thank you forjoining us from number ten downing st. that is a round—up of where we are now after all that rhetoric, especially coming out of the white house during the week. president trump referring to president assad as an animal. clearly extremely angry and emotional about the alleged chemical

attack, what the americans say was a chemical attack last week. the syrians deny that. what has materialised as a limited number of strokes in a precise time frame. it appears that military action by the us, britain and france is overfor now at least. thank you very much from beirut. this is bbc news in london. welcome if you've just joined this is bbc news in london. welcome if you'vejustjoined us. let's this is bbc news in london. welcome if you've justjoined us. let's talk more now about the decision to close those are strikes across syria. what impact is unlikely to be in the region. i'm joined now by london based middle east analyst jonathan paris. good to have you again on bbc news. can you give a sense for people watching about how the serious situation, which has been playing

out over the past 7.5 years, what effect this has had on the stability of the situation? —— syria situation. the fighting has been felt more widely even if the fighting has been within syria. the day—to—day is not terrible but it is strategically like a black hole. it is sucking in all these outsiders, turkey, iran, everywhere, russia of course is everywhere now, and it's made some regional players very nervous. jordan, israel is very nervous. jordan, israel is very nervous about a armstrongs coming their way. what we will see is more instability, more cross—border attacks. —— iranian armed drones coming their way. it is a difficult

situation in addition to the humanitarian crisis. how much will this have been part of the calculation for the british, americans and french? the importance of not doing anything to cause such a reaction from the russians, iranians or other players that it would add to the instability. iranians or other players that it would add to the instabilitylj would add to the instability.” think they were careful to avoid retaliation. that was uppermost in secretary of defence's outlook. there is a lot of american troops in iraq, where van is running the show. —— where iran is running the show. i don't take the view that if the americans get involved it is more chaos. better assad than chaos. i'm of the view that the current formula of the view that the current formula of america standing off and letting russia run the show is a formula for worse than chaos. it will entrench

iran in server. give them access to the mediterranean and create huge problems for saudi arabia, jordan and israel. —— iran in syria. problems for saudi arabia, jordan and israel. -- iran in syria. has there been an effort to deal about this organisation of iran, syria and russia? iran and russia did not have the same interest in syria. russia wa nts to the same interest in syria. russia wants to go home as a victor and remaina wants to go home as a victor and remain a diplomatic orbiter, economic arbiter. but they don't have the resources to escalate into war. the iranian regime, not the people, particularly the general pa rt people, particularly the general part of the revolutionary guard, they want to create this transnational shia brigade, centre more ever do is a fact —— send them

we re ever more ever do is a fact —— send them were ever there is a vacuum. imperial iranian expansionism. they wa nt to imperial iranian expansionism. they want to fill the vacuum which syria s. assad is nothing like he was seven s. assad is nothing like he was seve n years s. assad is nothing like he was seven years ago. i'm afraid this attack will actually bring russia, iran and syria closer together. on the other hand, there was a chemical attack and there is a nontrivial established which takes precedence over any technical —— there is a norman to be established which takes precedence. obama has said the red line had been crossed and didn't ta ke line had been crossed and didn't take military action. the americans and russians struck a deal whereby the chemical weapons in syria were

supposedly destroyed. they were destroyed except for one or two. these few are killing a lot of people and that is a problem. that is the problem, the russians did not give us the deal that we thought we we re give us the deal that we thought we were getting. syria has certainly held back. ithink were getting. syria has certainly held back. i think that that did not work. that's picked up on what you said about iran. i was struck listening to president trump was backstage and when he said that one day we may be friends with russia. would like to be friends with russia. who knows, maybe we can be friends with iran? in a theatrical way, he did a shrug and said, i don't think so. he has an important decision to back next month about iran and the nuclear deal painfully negotiated over so many years involving the american administration and the eu. what do you think is motivating him at the

moment? it's hard to say. i can't read the administration mind. let alone the president's. i do think that the other side is this. iran has some big decisions to make. if this agreement entered into in 2015 was nothing more than a hedge to build up their r&b, they are putting up build up their r&b, they are putting up sophisticated centrifuges now, which are legal under the deal, that will enable them to roll out the ukrainian in which uranium —— enrich uranium. the greater problem for a iran is they have a succession coming up. do they want to spend all that money they are getting from sanctions relief and the order they sell on the adventures in syria of one man? to the arabian people —— to the iranian people really want all the iranian people really want all the money to go abroad to build this shia dream? to see what economic

development at home? that is the crisis, i think andy achilles' heel -- i think, crisis, i think andy achilles' heel —— i think, and the achilles' heel of the premium system. the brilliant president says he has had —— the iran president has had a phone call this morning and they spoke about the extracts and described it as a and attempt to strengthen terrorism in the area. britain, france and the us are responsible for the cause aggressors of the attack. this ad that will bring them together more. —— the consequences of the attack. in the end, honey is one person that doesn't agree with the revenue in all of these foreign ventures. —— in the end rouhani is one of these people. he would rather work on infrastructure and local things

rather than resistance movements. what has been changed over night by the attack? the main takeaway, this was a coalition of the willing. this showed the french and british working very well together, perhaps a bit ofa working very well together, perhaps a bit of a balance to trump, which is an unknown quantity. —— to president trump. the fact that they get it together was an improvement on last year's attack, a unilateral tomahawk. the key is what is the diplomatic follow—up? it was good that they remain proportionate and didn't go out of their way to gratuitously attack and borini embrace —— and iranian base a russian base. finally, you measure the british and french dimensions. there has been a suggestion that it might have been the british and

french that have urged the americans to do french that have urged the americans todoa french that have urged the americans to do a bit quicker, coming from the americans. americans still have a lot of troops in iraq. iran has a lot of troops in iraq. iran has a lot of troops in iraq. iran has a lot of assets in iraq. the one fears that the pentagon in america always has is whatever happens elsewhere, iran could retaliate through their proxies, always does proxies, against american troops. many american troops have been killed by ieds deployed by iranian government. it was a good thing that they waited, though. thank you for talking to us. what is your assessment of the

decision to launch this strike?m is clear that the french said they have direct evidence of use of chemical weapons. i find have direct evidence of use of chemical weapons. ifind it extraordinary that they've plundered by using chemical weapons because they were winning. it shows a certain desperation by the russians and iranians in the region, both of whom syria is a vital ground. syria is no longer a a nation, it is an occupied territory. the russians regard this as home territory, there are based there. it's one of two bases they have. they also don't own the other. as for the iranians, listening to your previous correspondent, i would say that there is not an insignificant problem at home in iran, the world is creeping into the internet

satellite dishes there is an unrest, thatis satellite dishes there is an unrest, that is why this product this crisis at what is being allowed to be created. wanting to bring a country together is to attack another country. they must hold onto syria thatis country. they must hold onto syria that is a centre —— a centrepiece of theirempire. the prime that is a centre —— a centrepiece of their empire. the prime ministerwas clear this morning when she addressed to journalists this morning said that she believes that this was an urgent matter and they had to go ahead. it was the right thing to do but also they couldn't read. we dance around handbags, especially in the reality is that there is such a thing as flybys, us, australia, canada and new zealand. at this stage, they are looking at the french intelligence, who believe

they've got a smoking gun. that is what has brought it about. the french report is to this. nato is a bystander at this. the un is too busyin bystander at this. the un is too busy in gibraltar and northern ireland. that tells you about britain's place in the world. —— the eu is too busy. there is a red line in syria for the russians. that is the killing of russian soldiers. on this occasion, the russians were in a pre—ward about the attacks and i've no doubt that they had reactively evacuated. —— the russians were not pre—ward. this is the policy had to get. there will be talks, asjeremy the policy had to get. there will be talks, as jeremy corbyn the policy had to get. there will be talks, asjeremy corbyn keeps banging on about. but what he either doesn't know what understand is that the russian, the main venue for talks is the un and the russians have vetoed talks every time. we have vetoed talks every time. we have to put pressure on them to bring to the table. this is what

they have no way of understanding. this is the real world. there are bigger issues in the region affecting us. uranium proxies, like the qataris, are using the muscle brotherhood to subvert groups in the uk. -- brotherhood to subvert groups in the uk. —— iranian proxies. we have to ask the qataris to help us to stop finding these groups in the uk. what about the decision to go ahead without prior approval from parliament. we've just had through the statement from jeremy corbyn saying he's written to the prime minister about this. he says that the danger of the consequence of any unilateral action without a legal basis is that it's just an ignorant —— anneka richmond for others to do the same. would it have been you put have the parliament late april one? of course, but we understand what happened in 2013 when we backed out. the danger in parliament today is thatjeremy the danger in parliament today is

that jeremy corbyn will use the built to attack the government as opposed to vote for what is right. he is on interested in himself and got what is right. he would offer little dispute that, wouldn't he? and not yet argue. —— he would obviously dispute that, wouldn't he? there will be a debate in parliament to explore it and discuss the decision. the assessment was that act ina decision. the assessment was that act in a —— was to add in a timely manner. this was to put the ball backin manner. this was to put the ball back in the russian agreement. they have shown very clearly that it's not acceptable and people won't stand by and waffle, have another resolution, like something out of monty python, they will do something

about it and the whining is out there. as you said, the wording is out there. —— the warning is after. general matters has described this asa general matters has described this as a one—time shot. —— general mattis. if everything is true about last weekend, what then? that is a very good question. you have to understand and remember that the syrian regime itself doesn't stand alone. the russian fighter is pretty much run it as a proxy along with the —— the russians and iranians are pretty much run it as a proxy. one month from now, they will be general elections in iraq. the rainiest of what —— the iranians don't want there stop it. the people of iraq

are not enjoying what they are seeing under screens. there is high—stakes seeing under screens. there is high—sta kes across—the—boa rd. thank you very much for being with us. we talked a bit about president trump's decision and what may have automated it and the options he was considering. —— what might have motivated it. let's hearfrom the president himself, this was his statement on friday evening, as the weapons were lodged. he set out his case about what he thought the attack in douma had to receive a firm response. the purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons. establishing this deterrent

is a vital national security interest of the united states. the combined american, british and french response to these atrocities will integrate all instruments of our national power, military, economic and diplomatic. we are prepared to sustain this response until the syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents. i also have a message tonight for the two governments most responsible for supporting, equipping and financing the criminal assad regime. to iran and to russia i ask, what kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children? the nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. no nation can succeed in the long run by promoting a rogue states, brutal tyrants and murderous dictators. donald trump speaking on friday. we

haven't yet heard from the french president in britain. emmanuel macron was part of the joint decision to go ahead with the strikes. we have heard from theresa may. she has given a news conference in downing street and said that it was the uk's responsibility to work with the allies to establish who was behind the chemical weapons attack in douma last week. i cannot tell you everything, but let me give you an example of some of the evidence is leading us to the conclusion that they are responsible. open source accounts alleged that a barrel bomb was used to deliver the chemicals. multiple open source reports claim that a

regime helicopter was observed above the city of douma on the evening of the city of douma on the evening of the 7th of april. the opposition does not operate helicopters or use barrel bombs. reliable intelligence indicates that syrian military officials coordinated what appears to be the use of chlorine in douma on the 7th of april. no other group could have carried out this attack. daesh does not even have a presence in douma. the fact of this attack should surprise no one. we note that the syrian regime has an utterly appalling record of using chemical weapons against its own people. on the 21st of august 2014, of 800 were killed and dozens injured in it —— a chemical attack. there were 14 further smaller chemical attacks

that summer. in khan shaykhun, the syrian regime accused savin —— regime used chemicals against its people. based on the regime's pattern of behaviour and accumulative analysis of specific instance, wejudge accumulative analysis of specific instance, we judge it accumulative analysis of specific instance, wejudge it highly likely that the syrian regime has continued to use chemical weapons since then and will continue to do so. this must be stopped. with me now isjohn gearson, he's a professor of national security studies at kings college london. thank you for being with us. can we talk about the political aperitif year? a british prime minister has quite a lot of independent of the retreat but after tony blair went to war in iraq, he did so by seeking prior consent from the british house of commons and then david cameron sought consent from the house of commons tojoin

sought consent from the house of commons to join president obama in action against syria when he used chemical weapons. the house of commons rejected that and britain did nothing. this time the british by minister is taking a different approach. —— the british prime minister. will she be able to defend this bunch addresses parliament on monday? critics will argue that she shouldn't have done so without going to parliament first. parliament was in recess and there was a dynamic situation. that is her argument. the attack took place recently, military action has to be planned and doesn't lend itself to debate and house of commons. giving people enough time to prepare of things are whatever you might otherwise targeting? right. shejust you might otherwise targeting? right. she just want to give the appearance of a national crisis, even though there are important things going on. parliament returns on monday. because of the circumstances. she will probably get away with the argument that this had to happen, allies were doing things.

she does have the prerogative to initiate military action. there was a convention setup and some of these occasions, such as the vote on iraq and the field fought in 2014. there have also been major decisions that haven't dependent on prior parliamentary approval. such as in afghanistan. a major tenure operation and ultimately be lost significant bumper of british forces. —— a major kenya operation. the government has not actually clarified her position. she taught was carefully in the press conference. she referred to national interests at stake. that is one of the opt outs for a prime minister. she can take action if it is an emergency. parliament will want to make sure this is a constraint operation. in these circumstances, she will probably carry the house.

her coalition partners have indicated their support. the event of opinions and house of commons. let's talk about the product picture. the decisions that the russians have made that there will bea un russians have made that there will be a un security council meeting in new york at 11am eastern standard time this one. ppm central europe time. what has that potential for any kind of progress on this, given the success of un security council meetings we've had on syria, what are the chances that something can be carved out of this? the expectations must be low, both america and russia have used every top worse in recent weeks over resolutions. —— have used their veto powers in recent weeks. if there is a desire for some kind of political process , a desire for some kind of political process, they might get the support.

it is not just process, they might get the support. it is notjust the veto holding powers that counts. you have to get the majority of the security council. 15 member countries. it is not just the v2 council. 15 member countries. it is notjust the v2 holding power was, although they can stop things if they wish. it is significant that three of the five veto holding powers have taken action on this occasion. at the moment, the deformity process seems to be stumbling in syria. this is partly a reflection of what is happening on the ground. how much is this influenced by what happened in salisbury, the english city where the russian agent and his daughter we re the russian agent and his daughter were apparently poisoned, skripals it? the british statement refers to norms of behaviour. that is partly the reason. there was a concern that the reason. there was a concern that the norms about the use of chemical weapons seems to be piloting and it

was reported for the western allies to send out a message they will not stand by and ignore this. —— seems to be diluting. the prime minister referred to this but they won't actually link action of this sort. i do think that the war of words preceding last night's action were very u nfortu nate preceding last night's action were very unfortunate and one would hope in the next few days is a tempering of the rhetoric in the both sides. let's hope they can move forward. john gearson, professor of national security studies at kings college london. reporting today on the aftermath of the decision by the uk, france and the decision by the uk, france and the us to bombs targets in syria, arguing that chemical weapons should not be used after they were used in douma week ago. this is bbc news. now let's get a look at the weather

prospects from things are looking brighter and warmer as the weekend begins. tomorrow there is some rain moving northwards again. make the most of what will be a merely try start to the weekend. warming up, some sunny spells. over is beacon, the wind picks up and wetter weather returns into tomorrow. it is dry for most of us into tomorrow. it is dry for most of us for the rest of today. it would be clear blue skies, lots of club around, but breaks allowing some sun to come through. that is an improvement in recent days. improving temperatures on the north sea improving temperatures on the north sea coast, these have been called for several days. but into double figures, the wind going offshore rather than coming in. for the grand national, a top temperature of 40-15d. national, a top temperature of 40—15d. some party bricks coming through the cloudy skies at times. a chance for some late show with in wales. —— shots. as the night goes

on, clout and outbreaks of rain pushing towards northern ireland, wales and south—west england. about 4-8d wales and south—west england. about 4—8d for most of us will be the lowest. this could be some fog patches in south—eastern england as the day begins tomorrow. low pressure coming our way, this is feeding the rain bearing far north—west across the uk. they will bea north—west across the uk. they will be a strengthening wind and it is a breezy picture on sunday. some club, outbreaks of rain: northwards, but amounting to two much. the first north of scotland will be mainly dry. there could be a few further heavy showers, maybe some thunder, then a likelihood of rain at times, to clout and please, temperatures area bit to clout and please, temperatures are a bit lower. temperatures are heading higher through the week, particularly from midweek. some

might get to 24 degrees. highs in 20s. temperatures in some sports in scotla nd 20s. temperatures in some sports in scotland reaching above 20 celsius. some clout around, windy and western parts and monty into tuesday there is another area of rainfall living in northern ireland and scotland. that forecast, enjoy your weekend. strikes against syria. more than 100 missiles were fired in the joint action — targeting alleged chemical weapons sites. four raf tornado jets were involved in the bombing raids. the prime minister said the action was right and legal. we cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalised, either within syria, on the streets of the

uk or elsewhere.