Several members of Congress were quick to react to President Donald Trump's announcement that the US, in concert with the UK and France, had deployed "precision strikes" on chemical weapons targets in Syria.

Many criticised the move because he did not seek Congressional approval, though the administration justified it by citing that thwarting chemical weapons use in the "vital national interest" of the US, an exception that does not explicitly need Congressional approval according to some experts. Democrats like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senator Tim Kaine were joined by Republican Representative Thomas Massie in hitting out at the president for not consulting the constitution. However, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement: "The planning for this robust operation by the US and our allies was clearly well-considered. It is evident that the President was provided with a number of options, and that our forces executed a challenging mission".

Donald Trump addresses the nation following military strikes in Syria

The Pentagon confirmed the first wave of strikes is complete as a response to a suspected chemical weapons attack on the city of Douma, where 60 people were reported killed and 1,000 injured. It was a multi-target attack and done in cooperation with allies, as opposed to last year's unilateral American missile strike, carried out in response to chemical weapons use in an attack on the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun.

Mr Massie said that he has not read the Constitutions of France or the UK but "I’ve read ours and nowhere in it is presidential authority to strike Syria". Senator Bob Casey tweeted: "While [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad must be held accountable for his unlawful use of chemical weapons against civilians, the strikes that are being carried out are being done without an authorisation from Congress, which is unacceptable".

Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Show all 21 1 /21 Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action A picture released by the French Defence audiovisual communication and production unit (ECPAD) shows the launching of a cruise missile from a French military vessel in the Mediterranean sea towards targets in Syria overnight. The United States, France and Britain carried out a wave of punitive strikes against Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime in the early hours of April 14 in response to alleged chemical weapons attacks. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Rafale warplanes being prepared for take off at the Saint-Dizier aerial military base, eastern France. Media reports state that the United States, France and Britain launched military strikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Assad for an apparent chemical attack against civilians and to deter him from doing it again. EPA Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Damascus skies erupt with missile fire as the US launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the capital. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes in retaliation for the country's alleged use of chemical weapons. AP Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action A map show the location of the air strikes carried out by the US-led coalition in Syria overnight. US Department of Defense Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The wreckage of a building described as part of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Royal Air Force tornado jets take off in the early hours from RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus to conduct air strikes in Syria. Four Tornado jets fired Storm Shadow missiles "at a military facility -- a former missile base -- some 15 miles (24 kilometres) west of Homs, where the regime is assessed to keep chemical weapon precursors," the defence ministry said in a statement. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Map of where the air strikes hit in Syria released by the Pentagon. A Syrian military statement says the US, Britain and France fired 110 missiles during a joint attack on targets in Damascus and outside. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action A photo released on the Twitter page of Hezbollah's "Central War Media" account shows night footage of flares above Damascus seen through a night-vision device as Western strikes reportedly hit Syrian military bases and chemical research centres in and around Syria's capital. US, France, and Britain announced the joint operation. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Barzah research and development centre before and after the air strikes, released by the Pentagon. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker before the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker after the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The wreckage of a building described as part of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The wreckage of a building described as part of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The wreckage of a building described as part of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage site before and after the air strikes, released by the Pentagon. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage site before the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage site after the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action A British military Typhoon aircraft lands at the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) of Akrotiri, a British overseas territory located ten kilometres west of the southern Cypriot port city of Limassol, following US, British and French strikes on Syria. Syrian state media slammed Western strikes on Saturday as illegal and "doomed to fail," after the US, Britain and France launched a joint operation against the Damascus.government. Huge blasts were reported around the Syrian capital, moments after the three Western governments announced they were striking Syria's chemical weapons capabilities. AFP/Getty Images Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker before and after the air strikes, released by the Pentagon. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker before the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker after the air strikes. Pentagon

Senator Angus King said in a statement that “Congress must take on a larger role in this decision making, as it is incumbent upon our nation’s legislative body to authorise the use of military force. As we move forward in the days ahead, I will continue to push for a more comprehensive strategy in Syria”.

Some said the president needed to consider the larger strategy in Syria before ordering a strike, regardless of it target three specific facilities crucial to the Syrian chemical weapons operations. Senator John McCain said that Mr Trump "needs to lay out our goals, not just with regard to Isis, but also the ongoing conflict in Syria and malign Russian and Iranian influence in the region”. Ms Pelosi noted "one night of airstrikes" was not going to end the years-long conflict in the country and demanded a plan going forward.

Theresa May says Syrian air strikes are in Britain's national interest

"The President must come to Congress and secure an Authorisation for Use of Military Force by proposing a comprehensive strategy with clear objectives that keep our military safe and avoid collateral damage to innocent civilians," she said in a statement. The US is currently operating under the same authorisation that was given in 2003 for the Iraq war.

Mr Kaine called the strikes "reckless" and "illegal". In a statement he said: "Last week, President Trump was adamant that the US was leaving Syria imminently. This week, he is opening a new military front".

In his speech, Mr Trump said: “To Iran and Russia, I ask, what kind of nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women, and children? The nations of the world will be judged by the friends they keep.” Mr Trump publicly confronted the countries that have been on the side of Mr Assad’s regime. Russia has repeatedly blocked measures regarding Syria in the United Nations Security Council as well. Mr Trump said Russia must decide whether it wants to ”continue down this dark path or join with civilised nations” in combating the use of chemical weapons and ending the ongoing conflict.