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UK attacks Russian support for Syria regime after US airstrikes

The UK government has attacked Russia's role in alliance with the Syria regime as international tensions continue in the aftermath of the suspected chemical attack and retaliatory US airstrikes.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has pulled out of a visit to Moscow saying "we deplore Russia's continued defence of the Assad regime".

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has said Russia is responsible for "every civilian death" in Bashar Assad's suspected sarin attack on his own people.

US President Donald Trump has meanwhile written to both chambers of Congress justifying his decision to launch the retaliation strikes.

US senator John McCain has told ITV News the US and its allies must add momentum to Mr Trump's intervention by working to force President Assad out.

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Miliband has no regrets on blocking Syria strikes in 2013

Ed Miliband led the crossbench rebellion against supporting US-led airstrikes on the Assad regime in 2013. Credit: PA

Ed Miliband has said the brutality of the Syrian civil war made him question his efforts to successfully block airstrikes against the Assad regime in 2013.

However the former Labour leader said he still concluded it was the "right thing to do".

Mr Miliband led a rebellion in 2013 against then-prime minister David Cameron's plans in response to chemical weapons attacks against civilians.

He was questioned over his stance on not intervening during an appearance on Channel 4 comedy show The Last Leg, hours after US President Donald Trump launched air strikes in Syria.

"The horrible scenes, ghastly scenes (of the conflict) obviously make me think about that," he said.

"I have thought a lot about it and whether it was the right thing to do but I think in the end, in my heart of hearts I do feel it was."

Mr Miliband said there was a lack of plan for the consequences of the strikes in 2013 and he feared Britain "being drawn into the Syrian civil war".

"The biggest lesson of the Iraq war was you don't send our forces into combat unless you know there is a clear plan," he said.

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UK attacks Russian support for Syria regime after US airstrikes

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