Shortly after Theresa May declared that she could act in Syria without approval from Parliament, the Telegraph is reporting that the prime minister has ordered UK submarines to travel within striking range of Syria.
The strikes could begin as early as Thursday night.
With the US’s Truman carrier still a month away, the “coalition” will rely on UK and French ships as well as the USS Donald Cook, which is armed with 60 tomahawk missiles. US air support will probably also be involved.
President Bashar al-Assad has already started moving aircraft and military vehicles away from air bases that could become targets for the coalition’s bombs.
Mrs May hardened her stance towards Syria as she said the UK, US and France were “rapidly reaching” a clear picture of who was responsible for last Saturday’s chemical attack on Douma, Eastern Ghouta.
Mrs May said “all the indications are that the Syrian regime was responsible”, adding: “The continued use of chemical weapons cannot go unchallenged.”
Sources indicated to the Telegraph that Mrs May has now abandoned any intentions of seeking the backing of Parliament – which does not sit until Monday – for military action.
There are reports that President Bashar al-Assad has already started moving aircraft and vehicles away from air bases that are likely to be targeted, and both Mr Trump and President Emmanuel Macron of France have stressed the need to act swiftly.
Meanwhile in the US, President Trump told reporters to expect a decision Wednesday night.Sarah Sanders has said “a number of options” are on the table regarding US action in Syria.
Trump has also reportedly come to the conclusion that Syria was behind the brutal gas attack in rebel-held Ghouta – and that Russia failed to guarantee that Syria’s government had given up its stockpile of chemical weapons.
May has recalled her cabinet ministers from their Easter break for an emergency meeting where she will discuss how the UK should respond.
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