US, UK and France launch air strikes on Syrian government targets
Multiple government targets in Syria have been bombed by the US, UK and France force in response to a chemical weapons attack.
Damascus and two locations near Homs were targeted due to their alleged use as chemical weapons sites.
The intervention came in response to a suspected chemical attack on the town of Douma last week. The government said there was a significant body of information indicating that the Syrian regime was responsible for this.
Defence secretary Gavin Williamson said: "The reprehensible use of chemical weapons in Douma is further evidence of the Syrian regimes appalling cruelty against its own people. We will not stand by whilst innocent civilians, including women and children, are killed and made to suffer."
Read more: Labour slams government for "waiting for instructions from Trump" over Syria
President Donald Trump spoke at the White House last night as the strike was ongoing. He said that the purpose of the action was "to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread, and use of chemical weapons".
But Russia's ambassador to the US warned that there would be consequences for the strikes.
Anatoly Antonov said that a "pre-designed scenario" was being implemented.
In a statement released by the Russian embassy to the US on social media, he said:
"Again, we are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences. All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris."
Statement by the Ambassador Antonov on the strikes on #Syria:
A pre-designed scenario is being implemented. Again, we are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences.
All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris. pic.twitter.com/QEmWEffUzx— Russia in USA
(@RusEmbUSA) April 14, 2018
Read more: UK agrees to join US and France in action over Syria
[contf] [contfnew] 
CityAM
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]