President’s options

What could military action in Syria look like?

As Donald Trump’s military chiefs consider action after a suspected chemical weapons attack on civilians in Ghouta, the White House has a series of options:

Another punitive strike: in April 2017, Mr Trump ordered 59 cruise missiles to be fired at the Shayrat airbase he blamed for a chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun.

A bigger campaign of air strikes: the lack of results from the Shayrat attack may lead commanders to escalate the attacks, striking more bases and trying to knock out Assad’s air force.

Reversing plans to pull US troops out of eastern Syria: Mr Trump has scaled back US goals in Syria, pushing for a quick military withdrawal despite resistance from national security advisers.

What role could Britain play?: There are two likely options if Britain decides to join US military action, both of which mean personnel would not run the gauntlet of Russian and Syrian air defences. It could launch Tomahawk cruise missiles from a Royal Navy Astute Class or Trafalgar Class submarine, which regularly pass through the Mediterranean. Or it could use Tornado jets, stationed at RAF Akrotiri, to fire Storm Shadow cruise missiles from well outside Syrian airspace.