U.K.: Syria attack would be legal, justified even without UN Security Council backing

People take part in a protest calling for no military attack on Syria from the U.S., Britain or France, outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, organized by the Stop the War coalition.

ASSOCIATED PRES

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron leaves 10 Downing Street in London, to be driven to the Houses of Parliament for a debate and vote on Syria today.

LONDON  — Britain’s leaders said today it would be legal under humanitarian doctrine to launch a military strike against Syria even without authorization from the United Nations Security Council.

Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said the legal conditions have been met for taking action against Syria for allegedly launching a chemical attack against civilians in a Damascus suburb last week. The British leader has been at the forefront of calls for action, but his push is likely to be slowed by objections from the opposition Labour Party and a stand-off at the U.N.

Cameron’s office released intelligence and legal documents meant to bolster the case that chemical weapons were used by the Syrian government and that retaliation would be justified. The documents were made public in advance of what is likely to be an emotionally charged debate in the British Parliament.

In addition to a legal summary, Downing Street released the Joint Intelligence Committee assessment that concludes it was “highly likely” that the Syrian government was responsible for the chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21 that killed hundreds of civilians.

Jon Day, chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, says in the report that assessments indicate the Syrian government had already used chemical weapons on a smaller scale since fighting escalated in 2012.

“A clear pattern of regime use has therefore been established,” he said.

Cameron’s office said “The judgment of the Joint Intelligence Committee is that a chemical weapons attack did occur in Damascus last week; that it is highly likely that the Syrian regime was responsible; that there is some intelligence to suggest regime culpability; and that no opposition group has the capability to conduct a chemical weapons attack on this scale,” said a summary released by Cameron’s office.

Syrian officials have denied responsibility for the chemical assault.

The British legal report indicates the basis of Cameron’s assertion that military action against Syria would be permissible under international law even if it is not specifically authorized by the U.N. Security Council.

People take part in a protest calling for no military attack on Syria from the U.S., Britain or France, outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, organized by the Stop the War coalition.

Britain has proposed a resolution to authorize the use of military force, but Russia and China remain firmly opposed and there is no indication of whether it will ever be put to a Security Council vote. British officials did not expect the resolution to be endorsed given the staunch opposition.

“The government’s position on the legality of any action makes clear that if action in the U.N. Security Council is blocked, the U.K. would still be permitted, under the doctrine of humanitarian intervention, to take exceptional measures including targeted military intervention in order to alleviate the overwhelming humanitarian suffering in Syria,” the summary states.

This position has been rejected by some legislators who say they can only back the use of force if the Security Council has approved it.

The intelligence committee said there was no credible intelligence to suggest the attack was faked by opposition forces and that no rebel group had the capability for such a large-scale chemical attack.

Syrian officials today took the unusual step of writing to British legislators denying any role in the attack. In a letter to his counterpart in London, Jihad Allaham, speaker of the Syrian People’s Assembly, invited British legislators to come to Syria to investigate the attack.

He implored British legislators to oppose the use of force in today's vote: “We ask you to stop the rush to reckless action,” he said, asserting that a military strike would breach international law.

The opposition Labour Party has indicated it may not support even a watered down version of a resolution on Syria to be debated this afternoon and evening. Cameron has already bowed to Labour Party demands that Parliament be required to vote a second time before any military strike against Syria would be launched.

Labour leader Ed Miliband insists that any military actions must be delayed until after the report of a United Nations inspection team is heard.

The inspectors plan to leave Syria Saturday after collecting evidence about the alleged chemical attack.