UK publishes legal basis for Syria strikes

The UK government has released a summary of its legal ground for the strikes on Syria last night. Leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn had earlier today written to the Prime Minister Theresa May calling on her to do so.

The UK's legal argument rests on three conditions which it says permit it "under international law, on an exceptional basis, to take measures in order to alleviate overwhelming humanitarian suffering".

Firstly, it says that "there is convincing evidence, generally accepted by the international community as a whole, of extreme humanitarian distress". Secondly, there must be no other alternatives to military action. And thirdly, the forces must be proportionate.

The UK says it believes all three conditions have been met.

There full text of the legal summary is available here.