SYRIA CRISIS LIVE updates: Donald Trump launches airstrikes - WW3 tensions RISE

RUSSIA issued a stark warning to Donald Trump and Theresa May saying there would be 'consequences' after the US, UK and France led an air strike in Syria overnight. Here is the latest news and live updates as the crisis in Syria continues.

British forces united with France and the United States to bombard Syrian regime weapon facilities near Damascus and Homs following the alleged chemical attack carried out by Bashar al-Assad’s forces last week.

Theresa May said the attacks were “limited and targeted” but were a warning to Russia.

She said: “The action that took place last night was an action which was focused on degrading and deterring the operational capability and the willingness of the Syrian regime to continue to use chemical weapons.

Saturday, April 14
9.10pm: 'Blast' at military base in Aleppo after 'fighter jet attack'

There are unconfimed reports an Iranian military base in Aleppo has been attacked by unidentified aircraft this evening.

The base was in the Jabal Azzan region south of Aleppo, a Syrian government-controlled rural region.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported the blast but said the cause was unknown.

8.20pm: Pence warns Syria of 'price to pay'

US Vice President Mike Pence said today Syria would have a "price to pay" if its military conducts another chemical weapons attacks.

At a Latin American summit in Lima, Peru, Mr Pence said President Trump "made clear that the United States of America is prepared to sustain this effort to reestablish the deterrent framework that exists in order that the Syrian regime and its patrons know there will be a price to pay if chemicals weapons are used again against men, women and children."

7.35pm: Downing Street insists strikes were legal

Number 10 has published documents outlining the case for airstrikes against Syria amid questions over the attack’s legality from Moscow and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

In a summary of the advice given by Attorney General Jeremy Wright to Prime Minister Theresa May, Downing Street pointed the finger at Moscow over its role in leading the UK and its allies to decide to launch an attack on Bashar Assad's regime.

It said international action to alleviate suffering caused by chemical weapons had been repeatedly blocked by Syria's allies.

Diplomatic action, sanctions, and the US strikes against the Shayrat airbase in April 2017 have failed to sufficiently degrade Syria's chemical weapons capability, the document added.

The paper said: ”There was no practicable alternative to the truly exceptional use of force to degrade the Syrian regime's chemical weapons capability and deter their further use by the Syrian regime in order to alleviate humanitarian suffering.”

6.35pm: Russia resolution slamming ‘aggression’ rejected by UN

The UN Security Council rejected a Russian-drafted resolution today.

The resolution would have condemned "the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic by the US and its allies in violation of international law and the U.N. Charter."

Only Russia, China and Bolivia voted in favour of the draft resolution.

Eight countries voted against the draft, while four abstained.

A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, France, Britain or the United States to pass.

"There have been many instances when we have seen them using those chemical weapons.

"But I believe it should also be a message to others that the international community is not going to stand by and allow chemical weapons to be used with impunity."

The British prime minister has won backing from her senior ministers to take unspecified action with the United States and France to deter further use of chemical weapons.

However, Jeremy Corbyn said today the actions were "legally questionable" and parliamentary consent should have been sought.

Syrian state media said there had been a "violation of international law" and Russia has warned there will be "consequences".

6pm: Theresa May, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron brand strikes “a success”
A Downing Street spokesman said: "In separate calls, the Prime Minister this afternoon spoke with President Macron and President Trump.

"The three leaders agreed that the military strikes taken against the Syrian Regime's chemical weapons sites had been a success.

"The Prime Minister welcomed the public support which had been given by fellow world leaders for the strong stand the UK, France and the United States had taken in degrading Syria's chemical weapons capability and deterring their use, defending global rules, and sending a clear message that the use of chemical weapons can never become normalised."

5.25pm: UK will 'take no lessons from Russia'

UK ambassador Karen Pierce told the UN Security Council meeting there had been "clear boundaries" in the action that had been taken in an attempt to avoid escalation.
She said repeated attempts to hold the Syrian regime to account had been met with Russian "obstruction and resistance".

"We have repeatedly in this council attempted to overcome this obstruction, without success," she said.

"We are faced with a litany of violations, no sense of guilt, no sense of regret, no sense of responsibility, a shameful record wrapped in a mix of denial, deceit and disinformation."

Ms Pierce added: "I will take no lessons in international law from Russia."

4.55pm: US is ‘locked and loaded’ to strike Syria again if necessary, US Ambassador tells UN Security Council

With the UN Security Council meeting in full swing, the US Ambassador to the United Nations has told delegates her country will renew attacks if tested by Syria.

She said: “ We are confident that we have crippled Syria's chemical weapons program. We are prepared to sustain this pressure, if the Syrian regime is foolish enough to test our will.

"If the Syrian regime uses this poison gas again, the United States is locked and loaded.”

3.49pm: Russia asks UN Security Council to condemn last night’s allied attack, draft paper shows

Russian officials have called on the United Nations Security Council to condemn "the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic by the U.S. and its allies in violation of international law and the U.N. Charter."

It was not immediately clear when it could be put to a vote.

Diplomats said it was unlikely to get the minimum nine votes needed to force a veto by the United States, France or Britain.

A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, France, Britain or the United States to pass.

3.40pm: Russian Foreign Minister calls military assaults by US, UK and France ‘unacceptable and lawless’

Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, has cast doubt on France’s assertions that it has proof that a chemical attack took place in Douma, calling yesterday’s air strikes ‘unacceptable and lawless’.

Mr Lavrov said: "They [France] said the facts were incontrovertible [for the chemical attack in Douma], but said they could not share them with us.”

He went on to say if evidence was proven then "Russia would be the first to want to stop such an attack".