European Union urges relaunch of Syria talks after strikes

"The targeted U.S., French, and United Kingdom airstrikes on chemical weapons facilities in Syria were specific measures having been taken with the sole objective to prevent further use of chemical weapons and chemical substances as weapons by the Syrian regime to kill its own people", the statement read.

"In July 2017 and in March 2018, the European Union imposed additional restrictive measures on Syrian high-level officials and scientists for their role in the development and use of chemical weapons and is ready to consider imposing further measures going forward", said the bloc's Foreign Affairs Council in a statement after meeting in Luxembourg.

They noted the Syrian government, supported by Russian Federation and Iran, has stepped up its military operations without regard for civilian casualties.

U.S., French and British missiles destroyed suspected chemical weapons development and storage sites in Syria on Saturday in response to an alleged chemical attack in the town of Douma which killed at least 40 people.

"The Council understands that the targeted U.S., French and United Kingdom airstrikes on chemical weapons facilities in Syria were specific measures. with the sole objective to prevent further use of chemical weapons and chemical substances as weapons by the Syrian regime to kill its own people", the statement said.

"But it was the world saying that we've had enough of the use of chemical weapons".

German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, stressed that "this conflict can not be solved without Russian Federation, " adding that he wants a "constructive contribution" from the country.

Johnson said: "It is very important to stress this was not an attempt to change the tide of the war in Syria or to have a regime change or to get rid of [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad".