THE civil war in Syria is terrible and the loss of life is in the hundreds of thousands.

The Assad government and its supporters (Iran, Putin, Hezbollah) have been barbaric.

Chemical weapons have been used previously. Around 12 months ago there was a chemical weapons attack and they had been used previously in the conflict.

We have also seen barrel bombs and in total, a complete disregard for human life.

What can we do about it?

Many would argue very little at this stage.

We missed the opportunity in 2013 some would argue.

I voted against military action then because I just could not see anything other than a long drawn out bloody conflict which we would only add to.

MPs then had a further opportunity to vote for military action against Assad in December 2015 but I made it clear I would vote against such military action again.

The United States did take military action 12 months ago following the last chemical weapons attack but some would argue it was more the moral response than a military response. A Syrian airbase was hit by airstrikes. I hold the view that it had little impact.

I do not believe that we should just walk by on the other side and I will consider any proposed action on its merits and the wider consequences.

It is reported that Putin and Russia have significant forces in Syria and the Iranian elite Republican Guard have 25,000 troops supporting Assad too.

Is the west impotent?

Does impotence mean a dictator alongside rogue states like Iran and Russia can get away with such barbarity?

I would like to think that there are other ways of responding; diplomatic and economic.

My own view on the chemical weapons use is that such weapons will probably have come from Russia given the difficulty of manufacture, transportation and use.

It is important that we do not equivocate in our judgement of the civil war in Syria or the role of Russia and Iran.

They are to blame for these actions.

So if the question is, how do we stop children being gassed by barbarians in Syria, the answer is with great difficulty.

I am sorry that I can’t offer a clearer answer to this appalling crime against humanity.

To see these images and videos is distressing in the extreme.