UK cites legal ground for launching strikes on Syria

LONDON, United Kingdom – The British government announced on Thursday, August 29, it could still launch strikes on Syria without the approval of the United Nations Security Council.

CNN quoted a statement of the British government justifying the move on humanitarian grounds.

“The use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime…amounts to a war crime and a crime against humanity. However, the legal basis for military action would be humanitarian intervention. The aim is to relieve humanitarian suffering by deterring or disrupting the further use of chemical weapons,” the statement said.

CNN also reported the UK intelligence findings of that there was “no possible culprit” in the chemical weapons attack that killed at least 350 other than the Syrian regime.

The announcement came shortly after United States President Barack Obama said he had yet to decide on bombing Syria.

In Damascus earlier on Thursday, President Bashar al-Assad said, “Syria will defend itself in the face of any aggression.” – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com