Europe Must Increase Defence Spending In Face Of Russian Aggression, Warns Chuck Hagel

US Defence Secretary warns aggression in Ukraine should shatter myth that risk of conflict has reduced since Cold War as British Secretary of Defence warns Vladimir Putin not to breach "red line" around Nato nations

Read the Telegraph article here | Ben Farmer, video by Heathcliff O'Malley | Friday, May 02, 2014

US Ready to Launch Syria Strike, Says Chuck Hagel

BBC: American forces are "ready" to launch strikes on Syria if President Barack Obama chooses to order an attack, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says.

"We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfil and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take," Mr Hagel told the BBC.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has said there is "undeniable" proof that Syria had used chemical weapons.

The UK Parliament is to be recalled on Thursday to discuss possible responses.

Britain is considering military responses to the attack.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who has cut short his holiday and returned to London, said MPs would vote on a "clear motion" on the crisis.

Syria's allies, Russia and China, have stepped up their warnings against military intervention in Syria, with Moscow saying any such action would have "catastrophic consequences" for the region.

Meanwhile Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said he rejected "utterly and completely" claims that Syrian forces had used chemical weapons. » | Tuesday, August 27, 2013