British, French and US air strikes in Syria on Saturday sent a "clear message" against the use of chemical weapons, said British Prime Minister Theresa May.

"This collective action sends a clear message that the international community will not stand by and tolerate the use of chemical weapons," May told a press conference.

British jets fired missiles at a Syrian military base suspected of holding chemical weapons components, in the UK's first military action against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

May said that at an emergency cabinet meeting in London on Thursday, following an alleged chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held Syrian town of Douma on April 7, "we agreed that it was both right and legal to take military action" after hearing legal advice.

The strikes "will have significantly degraded the Syrian regime's ability to use chemical weapons", she said.

Four British Tornado jets fired Storm Shadow missiles at a Syrian base 15 miles (24 kilometres) west of Homs at 0100 GMT.

The prime minister has faced a domestic backlash, with the main opposition parties claiming Saturday's attacks were legally dubious, risked escalating conflict and should have been approved by lawmakers first.

- 'No practicable alternative' -

Asked why she had proceeded without consulting parliament, May cited operational considerations.

"It was right to take the action that we have done in the timing that we have done," she said.

May said she would address parliament on Monday about the strikes and face MPs' questions.

She claimed there was "no practicable alternative" to the use of force to degrade and deter the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime.

May insisted that the strikes were not about intervening in the Syrian civil war or regime change.

She also alluded to a nerve agent attack in Britain last month on a former Russian spy and his daughter.

Britain has blamed Russia for the poisoning -- a charge vehemently denied by the Kremlin in an escalating diplomatic crisis between Moscow and the West.

The Russian military on Friday insisted it had proof that the Douma alleged chemical weapons attack was faked by the White Helmets first responders -- on orders from London.

May called the claim "grotesque and absurd".

Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn demanded that the government publish the legal basis for the strikes, which it swiftly did.

"The UK is permitted under international law, on an exceptional basis, to take measures in order to alleviate overwhelming humanitarian suffering," the document said.

It said there had to be "convincing evidence" of extreme humanitarian distress, it must be "objectively clear that there is no practicable alternative", and any action "must be necessary and proportionate" and "limited in time and scope".

"The UK considers that military action met the requirements of humanitarian intervention," said the document.

- MoD claims success -

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said initial indications showed that the strikes had been "successful".

"Very careful scientific analysis was applied to determine where best to target the Storm Shadows to maximise the destruction of the stockpiled chemicals and to minimise any risks of contamination to the surrounding area," the ministry said.

Peter Felstead, editor of Jane's Defence Weekly military magazine, said the strikes were specifically about chemical weapons use and were not about "wider geopolitical goals".

"The strikes would also have been planned to minimise any chance of causing Russian casualties on the ground, lest that widen the conflict," he told AFP.

The Henry Jackson Society foreign policy think-tank said inaction would have been "grossly irresponsible".

Executive director Alan Mendoza added: "This cannot be a token effort to demonstrate our outrage. We need a serious and sustained response to deter further unacceptable and intolerable actions by a reckless regime."

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Mattis cancels weekend travel plans as Syria response looms
Washington (AFP) April 10, 2018
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has canceled weekend travel plans, a US official said Tuesday, as the Pentagon works with the White House on a response to a suspected chemical attack in Syria. The change of plans comes as US President Donald Trump shelved his first trip to Latin America, scheduled for later this week, saying he wants to "oversee the American response to Syria." Mattis was supposed to visit California and Nevada, the official added without giving further details. Trump has vo ... read more