The First Minister warns Syria strikes risk escalation

Scotland's First Minister said the suspected use of chemical weapons in Douma last week was ''sickening'' but warned that the latest action risked ''dangerous escalation''.

Writing on Twitter, she said her first thoughts were with service personnel taking part in the strikes, which targeted infrastructure at three sites connected with the Syrian regime's chemical weapons programme.

Ms Sturgeon said: ''Syria's use of chemical weapons is sickening - but the question that the PM has not answered is how this action, taken without parliamentary approval, will halt their use or bring long-term peace.

Air strikes have not resolved situation in Syria so far - nothing I've heard persuades me they will do so now.

An international strategy for peace must be pursued - not a course that risks dangerous escalation.

UK foreign policy should be set by Parliament, not US President.''

SNP defence spokesman Stewart McDonald said UK forces were engaged in ''gesture bombing with no major international consensus and no long term plan to halt the use of chemical weapons or deliver peace''.

He wrote on Twitter: ''Most worrying is that she has acted at the behest of presidential tweets and sidelined Parliament. What does this new bombing campaign do to help move Syria towards peace? Nothing. Instead, it has the potential to dangerously complicate the war, making matters on the ground worse for the people that the strikes are supposed to help. There is no peace strategy. This is not a brave or strong decision by the Prime Minister.''

Writing on Twitter, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: ''I support the targeted air strikes by the UK, US and France against the Syrian regime's chemical weapons facilities.

As the head of NATO has stated this morning, the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable and those responsible must be held accountable.''

The Church of Scotland expressed ''deep concern'' over the decision to launch air strikes.

Rev Dr Richard Frazer, convener of the Kirk's church and society council, said: ''Our firm belief is that air strikes will not improve this situation, but will lead to further loss of lives, displacement, suffering and fear.''

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: ''Political avenues should be exhausted before such a serious step is ever taken, yet the Prime Minister has been rushed into legally, morally and democratically questionable air strikes at the behest of Donald Trump.

Britain should be taking a lead role in negotiating an end to the Syrian conflict and halting the abhorrent use of chemical weapons, rather than putting more innocent civilians at risk, and British military personnel too.''