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Challenging Theresa May’s claim the Syrian regime “has continued to use chemical weapons and will continue to do so,” Major General Jonathan Shaw said there was no rationale behind Assad’s involvement as he had already “won the war”. Speaking to The Mail on Sunday he said: “Why would Assad use chemical weapons at this time? He’s won the war. “That’s not just my opinion, it is shared by senior commanders in the US military. “There is no rationale behind Assad’s involvement whatsoever.“He’s convinced the rebels to leave occupied areas in buses. “He’s gained their territory. So why would he be bothering gassing them?”

(Image: AFP/GETTY)

In his views, jihadists and various other opposition groups who have been fighting against the Syrian leader had a far greater motivation to launch the brutal chemical attack because they had much to gain from making it look like Assad was behind it. Their intention was to keep the US involved in the war – after Trump said US troops were going to pullout of the Syrian strife, “for other people to sort out”, he explained.

(Image: Getty)

The former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West had similar views. He said: “If I was advising President Assad, why would I say use chemical weapons at this point? It doesn’t make any sense. But for the jihadist opposition groups I can see why they would.”

But Theresa May must be given the benefit of the doubt, trusting that she had seen some “unequivocal evidence” of Assad’s involvement in the gruesome act according to the ex-military man.

However, the ex-commander of the Army’s chemical weapons regiment, Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, said: “A sophisticated nerve agent was used at Douma, not just chlorine. “Only Assad has the capability to produce these substances inside Syria. And using chemical weapons is his standard modus operandi.”