Syria attack: Jeremy Corbyn SLAMS UK strikes against chemical weapons plants as ILLEGAL
JEREMY Corbyn has branded the UK’s decision to launch airstrikes on Syria as “legally questionable” and hit out at Theresa May for not seeking parliamentary approval first.
Corbyn on Syria: More bombing will not save life
The Labour leader condemned the attacks carried out by RAF jets alongside those from the US and France in Syria during the early hours of this morning in the wake of the chemical weapons attack which Mrs May has said was orchestrated by the country’s President Bashar al-Assad.
Mr Corbyn added there was only a legal basis for action if there was a direct threat to the UK and instead claimed the Government should be urging Russia and the US to agree to an independent UN-led investigation into the attack of the Damascus suburb of Douma on April 7, which killed up to 75 people, including children.
The Labour leader, a fervent anti-war campaigner, said: “Bombs won't save lives or bring about peace.
“This legally questionable action risks escalating further, as US defence secretary James Mattis has admitted, an already devastating conflict and therefore makes real accountability for war crimes and use of chemical weapons less, not more likely.
“Britain should be playing a leadership role to bring about a ceasefire in the conflict, not taking instructions from Washington and putting British military personnel in harm's way.
“Theresa May should have sought parliamentary approval, not trailed after Donald Trump.
“You could only do it under the basis of self-defence - if there was a direct threat to us, and there wasn't.
“The Government should do whatever possible to push Russia and the United States to agree to an independent UN-led investigation of last weekend's horrific chemical weapons attack so that those responsible can be held to account.”
Theresa May defends Syrian airstrikes as 'national interest'
Four RAF Tornado fighter jets armed with the destructive Storm Shadow missiles took off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus during the early hours of this morning and targeted a Syrian chemical weapons site 15 miles west of Horns.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the missiles were fired at the base, with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson stating the missions had been “highly successful” and that all four jets had returned safely.
The UK, US and France have joined in a coordinated attack on war-torn Syria following the chemical attack last Saturday, with Russia vowing to shoot down any missiles and destroy the bases from which they are fired from.