were "perfectly executed". more than 100 missiles were fired in the joint action, targeting suspected chemical weapons sites. the purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons. four british tornado jets were involved in the bombing raids. theresa may said the use of force was "legal and right". it was a limited, targeted and effective strike with clear boundaries, that expressly sought to avoid escalation and did everything possible to prevent civilian casualties. parliament should be consulted, parliament should be allowed to take a view on this, but instead the strikes were launched last night. syria and russia have condemned the strikes, calling them an illegal act of aggression. we'll assess the significance of today's military action and the reaction to it.

in today's other news: pleasent company is coming back, tiger roll hanging on... a dramatic finish at the grand national, as tiger roll holds on to claim victory. good evening. president trump has declared "mission accomplished" following overnight military strikes by the us, the uk and france on suspected chemical weapons sites in syria. mr trump said the action was taken 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's denounced the attacks but said they caused limited damage. here, the prime minister said the action should serve as a warning to syria and its ally russia against the use of chemical weapons. but russia's ambassador to the un told a meeting of the security council that the missile strikes were an illegal act of aggression. here's our north america editor, jon sopel. countdown in french. from a french warship in the eastern mediterranean... to a british raf base in cyprus... to the uss monterey in the red sea, days of planning was replaced by execution, with bombing and missile strikes. the president said britain, france and the us had marshalled their righteous power against barbarism and brutality. a short time ago, 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. and he singled out syria's two principal backers. to iran and 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. in damascus last night, flashes, bangs and streaking missiles light the night sky, but those launching the attack seemed as keen to define what this mission wasn't as what it was. this was not about interfering in a civil war, and it was not about regime change. as i discussed with president trump and president macron, it was a limited, targeted and effective strike with clear boundaries that expressly sought to avoid escalation,

and did everything possible to prevent civilian casualties. daylight reveals the extent of the destruction. this is all that's left of the barzeh scientific research centre near damascus, one of the targets that took the greatest pounding. at a pentagon briefing this morning, defence chiefs said all targets had been hit with no casualties suffered. good morning, everyone. we are still conducting a more detailed damage assessment, but initial indications are that we accomplished our military objectives without material interference from syria. i'd use three words to describe this operation — precise, overwhelming and effective. but, in damascus this morning, regime supporters were celebrating a success in repelling american aggression. perhaps more accurately, this strike was more limited than they anticipated. this, apparently, is president assad strolling to work today, although we don't actually see a close—up of his face. if he's able to walk tall,

it's only because of the support he is receiving from the russians, and today at the un they turned their fire on britain, france and the us. translation: the us and its allies continue to demonstrate blatant disregard for international law but, as permanent members of the security council, they must be especially firm in protecting the un charter. but that was positively restrained compared to what syria's ambassador had to say. translation: i say that you are liars. you are spoilers. you are hypocrites. you are attempting to see failure in actions of this organisation which do not pursue your interests. tonight, some of the french jets returned home. along with the british and the americans, they are hoping this isjob done. but now the world waits to see if there will be retaliation or any further use of chemical weapons. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. we'll get the latest from jon in washington shortly,

but first steve rosenberg is in moscow. as one might expect, strong reactions and rhetoric from there? yes, and since moscow is president asset's biggest backer, it's hardly surprising that the language coming out of moscow today has been tough and uncompromising. for example, vladimir putin described the us—led strike an act of aggression, unlawful and unacceptable said the prime minister, and we heard a senior russian senator accused america of behaving like a school bully. in the geopolitical school playground, lots of shouting and some shadow—boxing behind the bicycle sheds, but no fight yet between russia and america. neither wa nt to between russia and america. neither want to go to war, really, over syria. and we know, because the us ambassador to moscow said that they that, before the strike, both sides

took measures to ensure that they stayed apart, but there was no clash. but for how long can this continue? when will the next situation arise which puts russia and america, two nuclear powers, on and america, two nuclear powers, on a path to confrontation? is that operation overfor now? a path to confrontation? is that operation over for now? donald trump used the perhaps illjudged phrase by saying it was mission accomplished. drink the iraq war, george w bush appeared on a battleship with mission accomplished asa battleship with mission accomplished as a banner beside him, saying it was the end of combat operations, but they went on for many years afterwards. but i think the scope of what donald trump and the other partners launched last night is much more limited, it's just about chemical weapons. if the syrians, frankly, and the russians want to go and bomb civilians with conventional munitions, that's fine. it'sjust chemical weapons that the american,

french and british drawing the line at. the targeting has been considered so that you don't eat any russians or iranians. it's not about regime. you saw that, while the russians may have had their defence system is turned they didn't act. to use steve's metaphor about the playground, last year, the americans gave russia a slap on the wrist with the attack on syria, and maybe they've added a punch in the arm, but it isn't a full—scale bundle. there has been a lot of overheated rhetoric from the americans and russians this week, but the actions which were taken well considered and very proportionate, in the american view. donald trump ran into some opposition from the pentagon about taking this action. they were wary that this could lead excavation the lap —— could lead to escalation, and it seems nobody wants that. the prime minister, theresa may, says the raids sent a clear signal that the use of chemical weapons would not be tolerated, and she said it had been "right

and legal" to take action. but the labour leader, jeremy corbyn, has called the strikes "legally questionable". with more on the reaction here in the uk, here's our political editor, laura kuenssberg. 2am at home. 4am at the target. raf jets take off to strike at assad's regime. by 9am, in number ten, the prime minister emerged to explain her case. there is no graver decision for a prime minister than to commit our forces to combat. and this is the first time that i've had to do so. we cannot allow the use of chemical weapons to become normalised. either within syria, on the streets of the uk, or elsewhere. not just a punishment for president assad, but about a wider principle, too. 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 that

when the global rules and standards that keep us safe come under threat we must take a stand and defend them. will you do the same again if president assad does the same again? as you have suggested he has. and do you feel you have the public‘s consent, given you have not even consulted mps in parliament? we believe the action was successful, but the syrian regime should be under no doubt of our resolve in relation to this matter of the use of chemical weapons. and i have taken this decision because i believe it is the right thing to do. ministers‘ legal advice justifies the strikes as... yet without explicit un backing,

the labour leader believes strikes might not be legal. the consequences of any country taking unilateral, and action that has no legal basis, are that it's an encouragement for others to do exactly the same. and reduces our ability to complain when others do that. surely the united nations exists for a purpose. the prime minister will face questions from mps on monday, but no firm plans for a vote. mps have been powerless all week to hold the government accountable on this. and for us to have to wait another two days after the event really is not good enough. there are major questions, major doubts. is this a one—off or a continuing operation. how much control do we have over what the americans are doing? we've got a very erratic american president who changes his position from one day to the next. this was not intended to end the war in syria. not part of an effort to remove assad. but the prime minister wants these attacks to be seen as a clear and grave reprimand to a country

suspected of using chemical weapons. an effort to force respect for the decades—old rule that such weapons are illegal and must not be used. while theresa may's decision to act was in her gift, what happens next may well not be. the prime minister may hope her decisions have a straightforward outcome but the political fallout may not be clean. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. a confident and robust prime minister but, as you implied, this clearly isn't without risk. yes, and the prime minister has been on the phone talking to leaders from around the world. a lot of warm words have been forthcoming from allies, but the decision to take military action for any prime minister is always

lonely, even with two allies alongside, and the reason is that theresa may cannot be sure what happens next. she has been at pains to explain again and again, this is just about chemical weapons, about trying to restore the international rule of law in this area, but the wider situation in syria is so messy and complicated that there is no way that theresa may can be sure of that. what she can be sure of is that. what she can be sure of is that she will face a hard time in westminster, facing lots of questions, and she has been so clear today in trying to focus on this one particular issue, which appears for number ten to be controversial but straightforward, but we have seen on so straightforward, but we have seen on so many straightforward, but we have seen on so many occasions straightforward, but we have seen on so many occasions before that british prime ministers have found that decisions which start off with clear merits can prove extremely tricky in the months and years afterwards. so, last night's strikes may appear to have been very clearly targeted, but they are being seen by some as a limited punishment on syria. so what impact will they have on syria's chemical weapons

programme, and what do they say about the strategy of america, britain and france? here's our diplomatic correspondent, james robbins. this is what provoked the strikes. last saturday's apparent gas attack on civilians in douma. britain, france and the united states are convinced this was the latest in a long line of assad's chemical attacks and had to be punished. so what was achieved? the strikes sent a deliberate, precise, if limited message to president assad — you are not the target, your chemical weapons programme is. the united states fired missiles from two warships and from the submarine ussjohn warner. plus, in the air, two bi lancer bombers. the raf flew tornadoes from akrotiri in cyprus, staying out of syrian airspace to fire their storm shadow missiles. france launched missiles from its frigate languedoc, as well rafale and mirage strike aircraft flying from france. so the us was not acting alone, but with two close allies this time, and that's politically important.

the targets of all this firepower — syria's chemical weapons production. the main target for 76 missiles was a research and development centre close to damascus. but also a chemical weapons storage site near homs. 22 weapons were aimed there, including the raf‘s eight storm shadow missiles. and target three, a nearby chemical weapons bunker, the main french target for seven of their nine missiles. but has military action damaged prospects for eventual peace in syria? definitely not according to the head of nato, america's wider military alliance. if you start to normalise the use of chemical weapons, then you seriously risk that chemical weapons will be used more and more. for me there is no contradiction between the strikes that took place last night and the efforts to support a politically negotiated solution. still, western strategy is to stay firmly out of syria's war on the ground.

today the syrian army declared all of douma under its control, the town apparently attacked with chemical weapons last weekend and the rebels‘ last holdout in eastern ghouta. russia with its forces in douma now is helping president assad take back more and more of syria and it is that alliance which will surely dictate much of the terms of any eventual peace. james robbins, bbc news. in a moment, we'll speak to our our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, in beirut. but first, our defence correspondent, jonathan beale, is at raf akrotori in cyprus, from where the british jets took off. how challenging was this particular operation? they've been flying bombing sorties

against the group known as islamic state for the last three years but this mission did have added risks and dangers. not least because of the syrian regime's air defence systems and the fact it is backed by a powerful russian military. as well as those four tornado jets and round with cruise missiles that took off in the early hours of the morning, they were accompanied by four typhoon jets armed with air to air missiles. this was a precaution in case they were engaged. as it turned out those tornado jets with those storm shadow cruise missiles were well outside syrian airspace. those cruise missiles have a range of up to 300 miles. their target was a military base west of homs where it is believed the ingredients of the chemical weapons programme are stored. the defence secretary gavin

williamson has assessed the strikes have been highly successful and he hopes it shows solidarity with the alliance, but also a warning to president assad not to use these weapons again. thanks jonathan. lyse can you give us a weapons again. thanks jonathan. lyse can you give us a sense weapons again. thanks jonathan. lyse can you give us a sense of the mood in syria, the wider region, and what sense that there might be retaliation? reaction in this region depends very much on where you stand in syria's tangled crisis, and eve ryo ne in syria's tangled crisis, and everyone in this region stands somewhere. from president assad's staunchest enemies, israel, saudi arabia, turkey, there was full support for this military operation. from countries like iran and other non—there was harsh condemnation. iran's supreme leader, ayatollah khomeini, described the air strikes asa khomeini, described the air strikes as a crime. behind this criticism there is also quiet relief. that so far these strikes have turned out to be far more limited than many

expected and that in countries like iran had prepared for the last week, moving their own forces on the ground to safer locations. they could be another impact. what we hear from damascus today is even greater defiance from president assad, his supporters and our lives. this alliance of syria, iran, his brother. they call themselves the axis of resistance. tonight he rain and hardliners began to refer to western powers as paper tigers. in today's other news: two irish rugby internationals who were cleared of raping a woman in belfast have been sacked by both ulster and ireland while paddy jackson and stuart olding were cleared of rape after a nine—week trial last month, there had been controversy over social media and text messages they had exchanged — which sparked a review into whether they should continue to play. the pair have apologised for their behaviour. five pedestrians have been injured after being hit by a car on canvey island in essex.

two people were airlifted to hospital in london. one is believed to be in a critical condition and another has suffered potentially life changing injuries. three other casualties are also being treated in hospital. police are appealing for information. the funeral‘s taken place in soweto of the south african anti—apartheid leader, winnie madiki—zela—mandela. tens of thousands of mourners crowded into a stadium, close to her home in soweto, where the campaigner was given a high—level send—off. mrs madiki—zela—mandela, former wife of nelson mandela, died earlier this month at the age of 81. with all the sport, here's lizzie greenwood—hughes at the bbc sport centre. a very busy day. thanks very much, kate. good evening. tiger roll won a dramatic grand national in one of the closest finishes in history. ridden by davy russel and trained by gordon elliot, it was a clean sweep for irish horses, as our correspondent

andy swiss reports from aintree. would racing's biggest day see one of its biggest stories? much of the focus beforehand was on three female jockeys, especially katie walsh. that didn't materialise. only 12 of the 38 horses finished. one for was said to be in a stable condition. on the second circuit they had to bypass beaches brooke. it was effectively a duel, tiger roll ridden by davy russell seemed to have won, but back came david mullins on pleasant company to set up an extraordinary finish. after a nervous wait... first, numberi3, after a nervous wait... first, number 13, tiger roll. the faces of victory and defeat. despairfor

mullins, delightfultrainer victory and defeat. despairfor mullins, delightful trainer gordon elliott, and especially for russell. at 38, the oldestjockey in the race, with the triumph of experience. a day both drama and emotion after one of the closest finishes this famous race has ever seen. andy swiss, bbc news, aintree. athletes from england, scotland and wales dominated the penultimate day of the commonwealth games, winning nearly a third of the 44 gold medals on offer. hywel griffith reports from the gold coast. england's track team have been accused of making a slow start to these games, but there was nothing sluggish about the men's 4x100. a strong second leg by zharnel hughes put them at the front. they held onto the baton — and the lead. it's gold for england. but whatever the men can do, the women can do better. they didn't just win, they set a new english record, with long jumper lorraine ugen called in to run the last leg. but england are the champions.

i thought, i have to run, i have to. as soon as she gave me the baton, i thought go, go, go. over at the boxing they were going for it too, with england, northern ireland and wales battling for medals. these have already been a record—breaking commonwealth games for wales. now its boxers have the chance to add a tenth gold medal. that challenge fell to 19—year—old sammy lee, in only his third ever senior fight. his languid style is unorthodox but it definitely worked. how does it feel to have the record—breaking medal for wales? it's unbelievable, i can't believe it. i came to win gold and i got it. england's netballers got what they wanted too — a last—second victory overjamaica puts them in the final against australia. hywel griffith, bbc news, on the gold coast. wolves have been promoted to the premier league today, but who'll take their place in the championship? match of the day follows the news, so avert your attention if you don't want to hear the results. crystal palace and huddersfield

moved a step closer to safety. southampton remain in trouble after losing to chelsea. swansea drew with everton, and there were wins for burnley, liverpool and manchester city, who can win the title tomorrow if manchester united lose. motherwell are into the scottish cup final after beating aberdeen 3—0. they'll face either celtic or rangers. elsewhere, kilmarnock beat hamilton in the day's only premiership match. ferrari's drivers dominated qualifying for tomorrow's f1 chinese grand prix. championship leader sebastian vettel snatched pole on his final lap in shanghai. lewis hamilton was over half a second slower and will start fourth on the grid. there's plenty more on the bbc sport website including the day's rugby union news. good night. you can see more on all of today's stories on the bbc news channel. that's all from me. goodnight. good evening. that was the kind of

spring day that many of us have been waiting for. wherever you look across the country there was at least some sunshine. a beautiful scene in ullapool in the scottish highlands, and dorset seeing beautiful skies this afternoon, and this is the view from space. there was a bit more cloud in northern england, northern ireland and scotland. one or two showers developed in the south in england and wales in the late afternoon. overnight we will see a few showers in east anglia, but most areas will be dry with some clear spells. down to the south—west the first sign of

a change. beginning cloud, outbreaks of rain and a strengthening wind as this area of low pressure squeezes in from the atlantic. sunday is a slightly different looking and feeling day. there will be more cloud around, it will be breezy and we will see some rain at times, but that rain will be at times and not all the time. you can see this sporadic rain pushing across the wales, and then pushing into northern ireland and southern scotland. behind that we will see a mixture of sunshine and hefty showers racing into the south—west. risk wins across northern ireland. north east scotland sticking out into sunshine and temperatures could get up to 16. on monday again we will see some spells of sunshine around, particularly in central and eastern areas. thicker cloud into northern ireland with some outbreaks of rain. once again western areas

will be quite breezy. we keep the breeze in the west on tuesday. still outbreaks of rain for northern ireland and western scotland, but further south and east there will be some sunshine and those temperatures start to climb by this stage, up to 19 and maybe 20 degrees, a sign of things to come. as we head deeper into the week, we will tap into this very warm air in the near continent and temperatures could get up to 25 degrees in the south—east, but plenty of other places are not too far behind. hello, this is bbc news. we'll be taking a look at tomorrow morning's papers in a moment. first, the headlines. the us, britain and france have taken joint action for the first time in syria, bombing three chemical weapons sites with more than 100 missiles. the prime minister defends the use of british force as "legal and right",

as four tornadojets were involved in the attacks. russia have reacted strongly to the strikes, claiming the attacks were a blatant violation of international law at a united nations security council meeting. and president assad says the aggression will make syria more "determined to keep fighting and crushing terrorism in every inch of the country". sirmartin sir martin sorrell has released a statement