THERE are renewed calls from the SNP for a parliamentary debate on Theresa May’s reasoning and strategy for joining the US and France in air strikes on Syria, as fresh questions emerge over their legal justification.

The SNP pressed for parliament to be recalled as early as last Wednesday to allow MPs to be briefed on Syria and to give approval for any military action. Defence spokesperson Stewart McDonald said it was essential for the Prime Minister to set out her plans in a full debate – and for any further action to receive the backing of parliament.

He said: “The case for a full parliamentary debate and vote on these air strikes gets stronger by the day.

“The independent investigators from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons are only now beginning their work on the ground – yet the UK Government have already acted, without parliamentary approval.

“A clear precedent was set in 2015 ahead of the targeted strikes against Daesh – yet the Prime Minister has ignored this. Theresa May needs to realise that she leads a minority government and that Parliament must have a voice in matters of such importance… Ministers must not be able to avoid democratic scrutiny by Parliament.”

McDonald’s call came amid claims and counter-claims about the action.

Donald Trump defended his use of the phrase “Mission Accomplished” after the US-led missile attack on Syria’s chemical weapons programme, saying that “it is such a great military term, it should be brought back”. In an early-morning tweet, the US president said the strike was “perfectly carried out” and that “the only way the Fake News Media could demean was by my use of the term ‘Mission Accomplished’”.

The Pentagon said the bombing of three chemical-related facilities left enough others intact to enable the government of President Bashar Assad to use banned weapons against civilians if it chooses.

However, Assad said the air strikes were accompanied by a campaign of “lies” and misinformation at the UN.

He spoke yesterday to a group of visiting Russian politicians, with his comments subsequently reported by state media.

Assad and Russia deny using chemical weapons, the trigger for the strikes early on Saturday.

An alleged gas attack last weekend in the town of Douma killed more than 40 people, said opposition activists and rescuers.

Assad said the US, Britain and France had waged a campaign of “lies and misinformation” against Russia and Syria.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has been paralysed in dealing with the seven-year Syrian conflict and the use of chemical weapons.

It rejected a resolution tabled by Russia calling for condemnation of the “aggression” against Syria.

Only three countries – Russia, China and Bolivia – voted in favour of the resolution at the end of an emergency meeting of the 15-member council called by Russia on Saturday.

Eight countries voted against and three abstained. A resolution needs at least nine “yes” votes to be approved.

Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the meeting in New York that the US and its allies struck without waiting for an investigation by the OPCW, branding the attack “hooliganism”.

But the US ambassador Nikki Haley said Trump told her if the Syrian regime used poisonous gas again, “the United States is locked and loaded” to strike again.

She said: “When our president draws a red line, our president enforces the red line.”