The UK has ordered submarines into striking range, ready to attack Syria’s Bashar al Assad as early as Thursday night, reported the Telegraph. Tensions continue to escalate following the alleged chemical attack in Douma.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has called her cabinet back from Easter break early for an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon. May will discuss how the UK should respond to last Saturday’s alleged chemical attack on Douma, Eastern Ghouta.
It is understood that at May’s Thursday meeting she will seek approval from the cabinet to join allies France and the US in a joint offensive against Syria, without the consultation of Parliament. The approval, if granted, could see the operation launched “within hours.”
Whitehall sources told the Telegraph that any military action is expected before next week, when Parliament resumes. By gaining the backing of her cabinet, the prime minister will be clear of the final domestic hurdle in the way of British involvement in the allied Syrian assault.
Escalating international tensions reached a fever pitch yesterday, when the apparently trigger-happy US president, Donald Trump, took to Twitter to warn Russia to “get ready” as missiles “will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’” at its ally, Syria.
In Cyprus, RAF cruise missile-armed Tornado fighter bombers based at RAF Akrotiri could join any action on Syria.
In Cyprus, RAF cruise missile-armed Tornado fighter bombers based at RAF Akrotiri could join any action on Syria.
It is understood that British officials are in talks with their French and US counterparts about which military assets should be deployed for military action.
US President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to clarify that he never specified when the US would conduct an attack on Syria.
“Never said when an attack on Syria would take place,” Trump wrote on Thursday. “Could be very soon or not so soon at all!”
Trump also credited his administration with defeating ISIS in Syria. “In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our “Thank you America?” he tweeted.
Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all! In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our “Thank you America?”— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 12 April 2018
Trump’s tweet comes a day after he warned Russia to “get ready” for a missile strike on Syria. The US is considering a military response over a reported chemical weapons attack on the rebel enclave of Douma on April 7.
Syrian President Bashar Assad has been accused of being behind the purported incident, but the US said it also holds Russia responsible for failing to prevent Assad from conducting the alleged attack.
White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday Trump "holds Syria and Russia responsible for this chemical weapons attack," and said “all options are on the table.”
Russia responded to Trump’s threat by calling on common sense to prevail. "We do not participate in Twitter diplomacy," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. "We support serious approaches. We continue to believe that it is important not to take steps that could harm an already-fragile situation."
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