Cool heads needed after strike on Syria

THERE can be little doubt that Western powers had to send a message to Syria’s Assad regime, and its supporter Russia, that there will be consequences for the acquisition and use of chemical weapons.

But whatever the air strikes against Syria have or have not achieved, one thing is clear – they will not deliver peace in the bloodbath that country has become.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson admits this himself, saying the action was to send a message that “enough is enough” over the use of chemical weapons, rather than a bid for regime change.

If that was the case, some may feel it was a shame the Prime Minister did not wait a few more days to give time to put the case for air strikes to Parliament. Opposition parties were quick to criticise the lack of a parliamentary vote before the action, and what we need now is unity.

If the strikes were a symbolic gesture to Assad and Putin, what remains to be seen is whether we have the willingness to make a more serious effort to get the ceasefire so badly needed after seven years of war.

So far Assad denies involvement in the alleged chemical attack on the town of Douma on April 7 which prompted the air strikes.

What we need now is absolute unity in the face of his relentless regime and its Russian backer, both of whom have demonstrated in recent weeks that they are ready and willing to unleash chemical weapons on their opponents at home and abroad.

Whether or not to intervene in conflict overseas is a question that has been hanging over the heads of Western powers since the Syria conflict began, with the shadow of the Iraq intervention looming large.

What is needed is a united call for a ceasefire from members of the UN Security Council. Only then can a political solution be attempted with any hope.

But this is no easy task, with Russia repeatedly using its Security Council veto to protect Assad from effective action by the UN.

It remains to be seen what this belated signal to Assad and Putin achieves, but it is to be hoped that it does send a message to those willing to use chemical weapons that Western powers will act – at least to some degree.

This is a war that affects the West, with at least half a million dead and millions of refugees.

Concerted and relentless diplomatic efforts have never been more urgently needed.