Theresa May’s Cabinet vows to ‘take action’ over Syrian chemical attack

British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Cabinet pledged Thursday to “take action” in response to last week’s Syrian chemical attack that left dozens of people dead.

While not detailing specific actions, the Cabinet said in a statement that members agreed that “it was vital that the use of chemical weapons did not go unchallenged.”

“Cabinet agreed on the need to take action to alleviate humanitarian distress and to deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime,” it said. “Cabinet agreed the Prime Minister should continue to work with allies in the United States and France to coordinate an international response.”

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The agreement followed a two-hour meeting at Downing Street on Thursday. A timeline for action or specific steps the U.K. may take were not immediately clear.

Dozens of Syrians were killed and injured Saturday after they were exposed to an apparent chemical attack in the rebel-held town of Douma.

Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government has denied being behind the attack, however various western leaders have pinned blame on Damascus.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that he has proof Assad’s government was behind the attack, and that he would decide in time whether to launch airstrikes in response. 

Defense Secretary James Mattis said the U.S. was looking for evidence in the attack as the Trump administration weighs its response.

“I believe there was a chemical attack, and we are looking for the actual evidence,” Mattis said this week.

President Trump tweeted Thursday that airstrikes against Syria could be coming in the near future after warning its ally Russia the previous day to “get ready” for missiles headed toward the Middle East country.

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) April 12, 2018

“President Trump just finished a meeting with his National Security team to discuss the situation in Syria,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement later on Thursday, following the UK meeting. “No final decision has been made. We are continuing to asses intelligence and are engaged in conversations with our partners and allies. The President will speak with President Macron and Prime Minister May this evening.”

-Updated 4:41 p.m.