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. good afternoon. the uk hasjoined the united states and france in carrying out air strikes against suspected chemical weapons sites in syria. announcing the action, president trump said it was in response to a chemical

attack on civilians in douma last week — and described it as the use of "righteous power against barbarism and brutality". the pentagon said the targets were a chemical weapons research unit in damascus, and two storage facilities and a command post near the city of homs. syria called the attacks illegal but said they caused limited damage. the prime minister said they should act as a warning to syria and its ally russia against the use of chemical weapons. president putin described the attacks as an act of aggression and has called for an urgent meeting of the un security council. here's our world affairs correspondent paul adams. after week of talking, and our of bombing. from a french ship in the mediterranean, a salvo of cruise missiles, in all. britain acting as

well, tornados taking off from their base in cyprus, also loaded with missiles. a carefully corn plated operation led by the united states. eight short time ago i launched precision targets on targets associated with the dictator bashar al—assad. associated with the dictator bashar al-assad. in the early hours of the morning, explosions near to the syrian capital damascus, one of three hit by america and her allies. it is not about intervening in a civil war. it is not about regime change. it is about a limited and targeted strike that does not further escalate tensions in the region, and that does everything possible to prevent civilian casualties. and while this action is

specifically about deterring the syrian regime, it will also send a clear signal to anyone else who believes they can use chemical weapons with impunity. syria claims to have shot down more than a dozen missiles, but the attack involved over 100. pictures of the aftermath on syrian television. the research centre near damascus reduced to rubble, and near homs, evidence of strikes on two other chemical weapons targets. syrian officials are defiant. translation: this aggression will only increase our determination to defend our sovereignty, dignity, national security and the security of our civilians. syria says it is business as usual, pictures released appearing to show president assad strolling to work. supporters are calling what they call a victory over aggression. last night's

attacks were almost certainly less widespread than they expected. it seems clear for now the bombing is over. right now this is a one-time shot and i believe it has sent a very strong message to dissuade him, to deter him from doing this again. france says it will not hesitate to act again, but like its allies, says it is not out to provoke. translation: we are not looking for confrontation and we do not see any logic of military escalation. that is the reason why we, with our allies, ensured the russians were warned before hand. allies, ensured the russians were warned beforehand. russia has condemned last night's operation and is calling for a meeting of the un security council, but for all its threats beforehand, it is yet to respond militarily. syrian forces at the scene of last weekend's alleged attack. weapons inspectors say they still expect to reach douma today. syria and russia continued to insist

that nothing happened there. let's get more reaction now. in a moment we'll speak to our correspondents in moscow and beirut, but first to barbara plett—usher in washington. how will the administration judge whether or not this operation has been a success? we will be hearing more about that in about an hour, because that is when we will be getting an update from the pentagon. i expect there will probably be questions about the apparent discrepancy between the pentagon and the white house. you had president trump saying this is a sustained campaign, until president assad stops using chemical weapons and then you had james mattis saying it was a one—time shot. when asked if there would be further military operations, he said that depends on assad, so he did leave the door open to military strikes. in terms of whether it has done the job, i expect there will be questions about how effective it was, because the

generals did say it was a limited operation. they did not target all the chemical weapons civilians because they had to be careful about civilian casualties and russian casualties. like britain, both white house and pentagon had said this is narrowly focused on the chemical weapons programme. this is not about regime change or entering the civil war. predictably, the language coming out of moscow today is tough and it is uncompromising. for example, vladimir putin described the attack as an act of aggression. the foreign ministry described it as a flagrant violation of international law. a senior russian senator said america would was acting like the school bully. he said the united states was dragging the world into war and needed to be stopped. 0ne dragging the world into war and needed to be stopped. one important point to make, before today, russia was worried that the us led attack on syria would put in danger the lives of russian servicemen there. that is a big red line for the

russians. but it seems there were no russians. but it seems there were no russian casualties, and that for now leased reduces the risk of the syrian war becoming a war between russia and the united states. syria's leader is keen to project an image of business as usual. we had that extraordinary video where he a p pa re ntly that extraordinary video where he apparently turned up in the presidential palace before work in what has been dubbed as a morning of resistance. we have heard from the syrian government. they have claimed this military action was illegal. they also claim to have shot down most of the missiles, a claim we cannot independently verified. the syrian president also stressed that this attack had strengthened his resolve to crush, as he put it, terrorism in every inch of the country. what that means is the fighting in syria will continue, and the western air strikes will not change that. thank you all.

defending the action, the prime minister said the raids sent a clear signal that the use of chemical weapons would not be tolerated. theresa may also said it had been "right and legal" to take action. but the labour leaderjeremy corbyn has described the action as "legally questionable." 0ur political correspondent vicki young has been looking at the uk's reaction. getting the preparations right. british pilots readied themselves for action, heading into danger british pilots readied themselves foraction, heading into danger on the front line, following orders from politicians back home. under pressure to explain why, she ordered air strikes, theresa may told journalists in downing street this was a limited use of force and there was a limited use of force and there was no alternative path. there is no graver decision for a prime minister, than to commit our forces to combat. and this is the first time that i have had to do so. we

must reinstate the global consensus, that chemical weapons cannot be used. this action is absolutely in britain's national interest. the lesson of history is when the global rules and standards keep us safe, under threat, we must take a stand and defend them. mrs may drew a clear link with the salisbury nerve agent attacks for which she holds russia responsible. while this action is specifically about deterring the syrian regime, it will also send a clear signal to anyone else who believes they can use chemical weapons with impunity. jeremy corbyn says the prime minister was wrong not to consult parliament before the air strikes which he suggests are illegal. she could have come to parliament on monday to discuss the whole situation. instead, she lodged the strikes. she claims there is a legal basis for it. i have asked in a letter i sent this morning to

publish in full the legal basis and justification for it. when cabinet ministers met on thursday to discuss taking action against the syrian regime, they were given legal advice, and the government is expected to publish a summary of that later. 0pposition parties have other questions for theresa may. that later. 0pposition parties have other questions for theresa maym does not do anything to bring syria toa does not do anything to bring syria to a more peaceful resolution, and i do not think it undermines the syrian government's capability to deploy chemical weapons in the future. the public expects parliament to do its job future. the public expects parliament to do itsjob in holding the government accountable. we understand it is a weighty decision, it is difficult, and there are legitimate reasons for wanting to respond to the use of chemical weapons which has undoubtedly occurred. but there are major questions, major doubts. is this a one—off or is it a continuing operation? how much control to be have over what the americans are

doing? we have a very erratic american president who changes his position from one day to the next. theresa may will have to answer all these questions on monday when mps return to westminster. she is adamant that military action was the right thing to do. and our political editor laura kuenssberg is here. doing it without prior approval, will that make it harder for theresa may to defend? it has certainly sown seeds of perhaps not mistrust but concerns. she did have calls with opposition leaders to try and bring them into the action. this is a massive political moment, a massive political moment for any prime minister to take their first political action. clearly, theresa may's calculation is notjust about

this douma attack. she has been careful to say to specific, limited targeted attack against the assad regime. but drawing that parallel with what happened in salisbury, theresa may believes it is worthwhile, because in her view it is time to draw a line on what she sees as having been a slide towards making the use of chemical weapons a new normal. for decades, the use of chemical weapons has been banned, it has been illegal. she is worried, the government is worried, that that is becoming something that countries feel they can disregard with impunity. and for her, bargaining, doing this now, it is trying to draw a line and go back to the old rules. laura, thank you. that's it for now on bbc one, but there's continuing coverage of the air strikes on the bbc news channel. the next news on bbc one is at 6.30. bye for now. hello. you're watching the bbc news channel. as we've been hearing,

theresa may says she's confident that the overnight air strikes on syria were successful, describing the action as right and legal. she told a news conference at downing street that the missile attacks launched with the united states and france sent a clear message that chemical weapons would not be tolerated. but she also said that the strikes were not aimed at regime change. together we have set a specific and limited set of targets. they were a chemical weapons storage and

production facility, a key chemical weapons research centre and a military bunker involved in chemical weapons attacks. it is these targets with the force that we have deployed was “— with the force that we have deployed was —— will significantly degrade the syrian regime's ability to research, develop and deploy chemical weapons. a year ago, after the atrocity, the us conducted a strike on the airfield from which the attack took place. at assad and his regime have not stopped their use of chemical weapons. —— but president assad. last night's strikes were significantly larger than the us strikes your ago, and specifically designed to have a greater impact on the regime's ability and willingness to use chemical weapons. and this collective action sends a clear message that the international community will not stand by and tolerate the use of chemical weapons. i also want to be clear that this military action to

deterrent the use of chemical weapons does not stand alone. we must remain committed to resolving the conflict at large. the best hope for the syrian people remains a political solution. we need all partners, especially the regime and its backers, to enable humanitarian access to those in desperate need. and the uk will continue to strive for both. but these strikes are about to terry and the barbaric use of chemical weapons industry and beyond. and so to achieve this, there must also be a wider diplomatic effort including the full range of political and economic leaders, to strengthen the global norms prohibiting the use of chemical weapons which have stood for nearly a century. although over —— although of a much lower order of magnitude, the use of a nerve agent on the streets of the uk in recent weeks as part of a pattern of disregard for these norms. while

this action is specifically about deterring the syrian regime, it will also send a clear signal to anyone else who believes they can use chemical weapons with impunity. the labour leaderjeremy corbyn has described the use of force as legally questionable, and called on the government to publish the legal advice it relied upon. i had a late night conversation wih the prime minister, and my whole point is that parliament should be consulted, parliament should be able to take a view on this, bnt instesad the strikes were launched last nigt. parliament is in session on monday. she could have come to parliament on monday to discuss this whole situation — instead they've launched these strikes. she claims there is legal basis for it. i've asked her — in a letter i've just sent this morning — to publish in full the legal basis and justification for it. and also why she hasn't heeded the words of antonio gutteres, the general secretary of the united nations, who wanted the strikes to be stopped, for the un charter to be observed, and to give time for the 0pcw to do its inspection

of the chemical weapons in syria. and also to work — again — to get a ceasefire in syria that no more people are killed in this ghastly civil war in syria. the missile strikes have caused anger in russia — with president putin describing them as an act of agression. the united nations security council is to meet this afternoon at russia's request. colonel tim collins is a retired military officer in the british army. he's best known for his role in the iraq war in 2003, and his it is clear that the french say they have direct evidence of use of chemical weapons. ifind... have direct evidence of use of chemical weapons. i find... the bottom line shows a certain

desperation by both the russians and the iranians in the region, both of whom, syria is vital ground. syria is an occupied territory. the russians regard as home territory. private property. it is one of only two places they have, the other being sebastopol. they will down a pitch to defence... listening to your previous correspondent, i would say that there is not an insignificant problem —— problem at home in iran. the world is creeping in through the internet and through satellite dishes. there is a lot of unrest. they are an unhappy country. the ayatollahs know very well the one thing that will bring the iranians people together is an attack, particularly by america. i think they would welcome this in

some regards. but they must all than to syria, that is the centrepiece of their empire and they won't give it up their empire and they won't give it up lightly. what about the british decision tojoin in up lightly. what about the british decision to join in with this operation? the prime minister was clear this morning when she addressed journalists about nine o'clock this morning at downing street, saying i believe that this was an urgent matter and we had to go ahead. it was the right thing to do and we could not wait. we dance around our handbags, especially youth looks at the bbc. there is such a thing as five bytes which uk— us, australia, canada and new zealand. they are looking at a french intelligence who believe they have a smoking gun. the french are being brought... what makes it interesting is that nato is a bystander to this and the eu had anywhere to be seen. they are too busy... that tells you something about britain's place in the world.

i think it's important that they have become involved in this because i think it adds a modicum of measure into this. there is a breadline in syria for the russians and that's killing russian soldiers. 0n syria for the russians and that's killing russian soldiers. on this occasion, we are told the russians weren't free words that the attacks we re weren't free words that the attacks were coming. —— a red line. if russian pilots, that would change the dynamic. that's the balance we have to get. jeremy corbyn keeps banging on about talks but what he either doesn't know or doesn't understand is the main venue for talks is the united nations. the russians have been told talks every time. we have to put pressure on them in order to bring them to the table. this is the real world. then we have to address the bigger issues in the region which affect us. iranians proxies, in some regards, or using the muslim brotherhood to subvert groups here in the uk. have to invite the qataris with whom we are friendly to desist and stop. top

funding these groups in the uk, to back off. what about the decision to go ahead with out prior approval from parliaments? we havejust had a statement from jeremy corbyn who says he has written to the prayer minister about this. he says the consequence of any country taking unilateral action with no legal basis is that it is an encouragement for others to do the same. would it be helpful to have had that parliamentary approval first? of course it would have been helpful. but we understand what happens in 2013. when we backed out of... the danger in parliament today is that jeremy corbyn will use the boats to attack the government as opposed to give thought to what is right. he is not interested in what's right. he would probably dispute that, wouldn't he? i'm not here to argue his position. he would say that's

what hisjob is his position. he would say that's what his job is as his position. he would say that's what hisjob is as leader of his position. he would say that's what his job is as leader of the 0pposition. what his job is as leader of the opposition. that debate will be an opportunity to explore it. but the necessity was to act in a timely manner. that has now happened. all indications are that the target has been well targeted against the weapons stocks. the ball is back in the russian... they have shown very clearly that it is unacceptable. people want stand—by, they would do something. the warning is out there. general mattis, defence secretary in the united states, the pentagon, his department has described this as a one—time shop. —— one—time shots. it the syrians use chemical weapons again, all that has been claimed is

true about what happened last weekend ‘s, what then? true about what happened last weekend 's, what then? that is a very good question. did you have to understand and remember that the syrian regime itself doesn't stand alone. and the russian advisers pretty much run as a proxy. they will take that decision independently. i think the russians and iranians will want to close things down. 0ther and iranians will want to close things down. other things are happening in the region of as well. in one month, there will be regional elections in iraq. iranians don't wa nt elections in iraq. iranians don't want that disrupted. they will want to see iranians parties elected. the people of iraq aren't enjoying what they're seeing on screens. there are high—stakes they're seeing on screens. there are high—sta kes across—the—boa rd. we have had a first daytime reaction from president trump since he made his statement on friday night. he is

waking up this morning in washington. not in florida because he is staying to monitor developments. he has tweeted on a perfectly executed strike last night. that contribution resulted in damage to one part of the damascus. these pictures come from syrian state television via the reuters news agency. they are said to show an industrial site after the coalition air strikes overnight. those air strikes, the contribution from britain and america, we are told now that the french launched 12 missiles. and that the british launched eight from the four tornado jets. two were fired by each of four tornadojets, which were jets. two were fired by each of four tornado jets, which were launched overnight. by my reckoning, as his

20 missiles in britain and france in total. which presumably means the other 80 came from the united states. those pictures from damascus, we can't verify them independently. they had, according to the syrian border that we do know that one of the sites it wasn't damascus. the british, americans and french say it was a site used in chemical weapons storage or production. and there were two other sites in and around homs which were also kids. there will be a un security council meeting convenes for a later this afternoon. —— also hit. more news from us after the weather. thing is looking brighter and warmer as the weekend begins. tomorrow there is some rain moving northwards again. make the most of what will be a mainly dry the weekend. warming up with sunny spells. the wind picks up through

the weekend, especially western parts. wetter weather returns into tomorrow. it is driver most of us for the rest of today. not clear blue skies. a lot of cloud around but breaks allowing some bright or sunny spells to come through. an improvement on recent days. an improvement on recent days. an improvement on recent days. an improvement on temperature along the north sea coasts which have been so chilly for several days. i can see double figures. the wind blowing off shore. the grand national at aintree, doctor butcher of 1a or 15 degrees. some bright breaks coming through the cloudy skies. —— highs of 1a or 15. as the night goes on, cloud and outbreaks of rain pushing towards northern ireland, wales and south—west england. 0n the chilly side, with the scotland close to freezing. most of us around four to 8 degrees. there could be some fog patches and easterling windass sunday begins. for the rest of the weekend, low pressure coming our

way. that's going to feed this weather fronts across the uk with a strengthening winds, especially in the west. a breezy picture on sunday, quite windy the further west you are. some cloud and outbreaks of rain feeding north, but not enough into too much. the far north of scotla nd into too much. the far north of scotland mainly dry behind the rain, sun brighter skies coming back to northern ireland, wales, south—west england. but there could be a few further heavy showers, maybe with the rumble of thunder. the likelihood of rain at times, temperatures are below. in the week ahead, temperatures heading higher particularly from midweek. some were -24 particularly from midweek. some were —24 degrees, most of us not that high. high teens and 20s widely. even into scotland, temperatures in some spots reaching above 20 celsius. from midweek, so a good tool of cloud. windy and western parts. through monday to tuesday, another area of rain moving in to

northern ireland and scotland. that's your latest forecast. enjoy your weekend. this is bbc news — our latest headlines: the us, uk and france have bombed multiple government targets in syria in an early morning operation targeting alleged chemical weapons sites.