7 April

A suspected poison gas attack takes place in Douma, the last rebel-held town near the Syrian capital of Damascus. According to reports passed to the World Health Organization, about 500 people have since presented themselves to health facilities with ‘signs and symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals’

8 April

Donald Trump warns there will be a ‘big price to pay’

Trump tweet:

‘President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification.’

Trump’s warning comes a year to the day after he ordered 59 missiles to be fired at a Syrian airbase thought to be the launching pad for a sarin gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun that left dozens of people dead. He also to order another attack if chemical weapons were used again

9 April

Trump tweet:

‘Nothing is off the table … If it’s Russia, if it’s Syria, if it’s Iran, if it’s all of them together, we’ll figure it out, and we’ll know the answers quite soon. So we’re looking at that very, very strongly.’

Theresa May condemns ‘barbaric’ attack on Douma

‘We are working urgently with our allies to assess what has happened. But, we are also working with our allies on any action that is necessary.’

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons expresses deep concern about the chemical attack in Douma, saying it will launch an immediate investigation.

‘A fact-finding mission is in the process of gathering further information from all available sources to establish whether chemical weapons were used.’

Jets attack a Syrian airbase near Homs. Russia and Syria say Israel is responsible. Israel refuses to confirm or deny

10 April,

the morning

The French prime minister, Édouard Philippe, calls for a ‘strong, united and resolute’ reaction from the international community

10 April, the afternoon

Russia and the west vote down each other's proposals at the UN security council, ending hope of a multilateral response

11 April

The Russian ambassador to the Lebanon is reported as telling Hezbollah-owned TV that ‘if there is a US missile attack, we - in line with both Putin and Russia's chief of staff's remarks - will shoot down US rockets and even the sources that launched the missiles’

Trump responds with an angry tweet ...

‘Get ready Russia! [Missiles] are coming. Nice and new and ’smart’ ‘

... before striking a more conciliatory tone

"Stop the arms race?"

Theresa May suggests Britain would support an attack

Reports from Turkey say that Syrian aircraft have been moved to Russian bases and senior government figures to safe houses in Damascus

12 April

Trump tweet:

Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!

French president Emmanuel Macron says ‘we have proof that chemical weapons - chlorine, at least - were used by the Assad regime ... we will have to make some decisions at the appropriate time’.

Merkel rules out German participation in strikes. ‘Germany will not take part in military action. But we see and support that everything is done to send a signal that this use of chemical weapons is not acceptable.’

US defence secretary James Mattis tells Congress he believes chemical weapons were used but ‘we are looking for evidence’ on who was responsible. He alludes to concerns that strikes could draw Russia into conflict with the US. ‘On a strategic level, it’s how do we keep this from escalating out of control, if you get my drift on that.’

At the UN, the Russian envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, says Russia’s “immediate priority is to avert the danger of war”. Asked if he was referring to a war between the United States and Russia, Nebenzia tells reporters: ‘We cannot exclude any possibilities unfortunately because we saw messages that are coming from Washington. They were very bellicose.’

13 April

UK cabinet backs May on Syria strikes

14 April

Donald Trump announces the launch of action in a seven minute speech

7 April

A suspected poison gas attack takes place in Douma. According to reports passed to the World Health Organization, about 500 people have since presented themselves to health facilities with ‘signs and symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals’

8 April

Donald Trump warns there will be a ‘big price to pay’

Trump tweet:

‘President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification.’

Trump’s warning comes a year to the day after he ordered 59 missiles to be fired at a Syrian airbase thought to be the launching pad for a sarin gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun that left dozens of people dead. He vows to order another attack if chemical weapons were used again

9 April

Trump tweet:

‘Nothing is off the table … If it’s Russia, if it’s Syria, if it’s Iran, if it’s all of them together, we’ll figure it out, and we’ll know the answers quite soon. So we’re looking at that very, very strongly.’

Theresa May condemns ‘barbaric’ attack on Douma

‘We are working urgently with our allies to assess what has happened. But, we are also working with our allies on any action that is necessary.’

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons expresses deep concern about the chemical attack in Douma, saying it will launch an immediate investigation.

‘A fact-finding mission is in the process of gathering further information from all available sources to establish whether chemical weapons were used.’

Jets attack a Syrian airbase near Homs. Russia and Syria say Israel is responsible. Israel refuses to confirm or deny

10 April, the morning

The French prime minister, Édouard Philippe, calls for a ‘strong, united and resolute’ reaction from the international community

10 April, the afternoon

Russia and the west vote down each other's proposals at the UN security council, ending hope of a multilateral response

11 April

The Russian ambassador to the Lebanon is reported as telling Hezbollah-owned TV that ‘if there is a US missile attack, we - in line with both Putin and Russia's chief of staff's remarks - will shoot down US rockets and even the sources that launched the missiles’

Trump responds with an angry tweet ...

‘Get ready Russia! [Missiles] are coming. Nice and new and ’smart’ ‘

... before striking a more conciliatory tone

"Stop the arms race?"

Theresa May suggests Britain would support an attack

Reports from Turkey say that Syrian aircraft have been moved to Russian bases and senior government figures to safe houses in Damascus

12 April

Trump tweet:

Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!

French president Emmanuel Macron says ‘we have proof that chemical weapons - chlorine, at least - were used by the Assad regime ... we will have to make some decisions at the appropriate time’.

Merkel rules out German participation in strikes. ‘Germany will not take part in military action. But we see and support that everything is done to send a signal that this use of chemical weapons is not acceptable.’

US defence secretary James Mattis tells Congress he believes chemical weapons were used but ‘we are looking for evidence’ on who was responsible. He alludes to concerns that strikes could draw Russia into conflict with the US. ‘On a strategic level, it’s how do we keep this from escalating out of control, if you get my drift on that.’

At the UN, the Russian envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, says Russia’s “immediate priority is to avert the danger of war”. Asked if he was referring to a war between the United States and Russia, Nebenzia tells reporters: ‘We cannot exclude any possibilities unfortunately because we saw messages that are coming from Washington. They were very bellicose.’

13 April

UK cabinet backs May on Syria strikes

14 April

Donald Trump announces the launch of action in a seven minute speech