Syria air strikes: Jeremy Corbyn slams Trump and says 'more killing will not save life'

Jeremy Corbyn has condemned Donald Trump’s inflammatory tweet in which the US President confirmed he was planning to bomb Syria.

The Labour leader also made clear he would oppose any UK involvement in air strikes, saying: ‘More bombing, more killing, more war will not save life.’

Mr Corbyn’s quotes come as Theresa May summoned her Cabinet to discuss the UK’s response to the suspected chemical attack in Syria.

It is believed that ministers will consider the possibility of backing military action alongside the United States and other allies.

The briefing comes only a day after the US President hit out at Russia’s support of Syria.

Posting on Twitter, he described Assad as a ‘Gas Killing Animal’.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump confirmed air strikes could take place ”very soon’ – whilst simultaneously backpedalling on his warlike rhetoric from the previous day.

Mrs May is believed to be willing to take action against the regime of Bashar al-Assad without seeking the consent of parliament.

Speaking during a visit to Derby, Mr Corbyn was asked about the US President’s tweet yesterday in which he said that ‘nice and new and ‘smart!” missiles would soon be fired toward Syria.

He said: ‘Tthe whole world should be alarmed at that sort of instant reaction – sending stuff out on social media to make policy.

‘What happened in Syria is disgraceful. Any use of chemical weapons by anybody against anybody else is clearly illegal as well as immoral.

‘Hundreds of thousands have died and lost their lives in Syria. There has to be a political solution.

‘Russia, America, the European Union, all the neighbouring countries, Iran, Saudia Arabia have got to be involved in ensuring there is a real ceasefire and a political process that does give hope to the people of Syria in the future.

‘More bombing, more killing, more war will not save life. It will just take more lives and spawn the war elsewhere.’

Although al-Assad has denied the attack, Mrs May has previously claimed that ‘all the indications’ are pointing towards it being ordered by the Syrian regime.

Her comments were seemingly backed by White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, who warned that Russia should ‘get ready’ for strikes.

‘We haven’t laid out any specific actions we plan to take’, she clarified in a press briefing.

But it seems that Mrs May will not necessarily seek Parliamentary support for potential intervention, and will instead act with the support of her cabinet.

Such a decision is likely to stoke anger among MPs.

SNP defence spokesman Stewart McDonald also called for a parliamentary vote before any decision to launch air strikes against the regime.

“While the need for action is clear – that action must be properly considered. Air strikes have not prevented these attacks and will not provide the long-term solutions needed to end the war,” he said.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said that while the use of chemical weapons crossed a “clear red line”, ministers should present their evidence of regime involvement to MPs.

“A unilateral response by any country, outside of a wider strategy, without allies is not the way forward. There must be a debate and vote in the House of Commons ahead of any military action,” he said.

Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru leader, stated the government had ‘no authority’ to launch strikes.

In contrast, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has previously argued that bombing could escalate the problems facing Syria.

‘This is a brutal regime that is attacking its own people and we are very clear that it must be held to account and its backers must be held to account too’, Mrs May said earlier this week.

‘What we are urgently doing with our allies is assessing what has taken place. Obviously, if this is a chemical weapons attack of the sort the initial reports suggest that it is, this is another example of the Assad regime’s brutality and the brazen way in which they have ignored the interests of their people.’