David Cameron: We cannot stand by when we see the use of chemical weapons in Syria
David Cameron has returned from holiday early in response to the Syria crisis (Picture: Reuters)

David Cameron has said that any military intervention in Syria would not be about the conflict but the use of chemical weapons.

The prime minister has insisted the world cannot ‘stand idly by’ amid almost overwhelming evidence the Bashar al-Assad regime had used nerve gas on the outskirts of Damascus last week.

‘Let me stress to people, this is not about getting involved in a Middle Eastern war or changing our stance in Syria, or going further into that conflict,’ he said. ‘It’s about chemical weapons. Their use is wrong and the world should not stand idly by.’

This comes after Syria’s only remaining ally, Russia, warned the west not to get involved, following a suspected mass chemical attack which killed hundreds in the suburbs of the Syrian capital last Wednesday.

A general view shows a heavily damaged street in Syria's eastern town of Deir Ezzor on August 26, 2013. Syria's opposition accused pro-regime forces of opening fire at United Nations weapons inspectors on their way to a suspected chemical weapons site outside Damascus in a bid to hinder their investigation.  AFP PHOTO / AHMAD ABOUDAHMAD ABOUD/AFP/Getty Images
More than 100,000 people are feared to have been killed in the civil war (Picture: Getty Images)

Russia’s deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin accused the west of behaving like a ‘monkey with a grenade’  as the US and UK prepared for a potential military strike.


Widespread claims pin the attack on the Syrian government and supporters of the al-Assad regime. Syria has said there is no evidence to suggest it is responsible for the attack.

United Nations inspectors have visited the site to investigate the attack, but have also been shot at by unidentified snipers.

Parliament has been recalled from summer recess early to address the alleged nerve gas attack in Damascus. MPs are set to debate and vote on a potential military strike and a government motion will be outlined on Thursday.

epa03836392 (FILE) A file photo dated 18 June 2013 shows British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) and US President Barack Obama at the G8 Summit in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, Britain. Obama and Cameron in a phonecall conferred about the alleged chemical attack in Syria and possible responses, expressing 'grave concern' and saying they would 'continue to consult' about responses by the international community, the White House said 24 August 2013.  EPA/ANDY RAIN
Barack Obama and David Cameron have stepped up their rhetoric around the Syria situation (Picture: EPA)

Mr Cameron said any action must be ‘proportionate, have to be legal, would have to specifically be about deterring the use of chemical weapons’.

But he stressed that no decisions about British involvement have been made, adding that Parliament was the ‘right place to set out all of the arguments’. Mr Cameron said the debate will ensure ‘proper’ scrutiny over the decision to get involved.

US President Barack Obama has been in talks with Mr Cameron, however, he has not made a decision on how the US will respond to the  civilian attack.

The White House is expected to release a public version of a formal report of by US intelligence community on the attack this week.