Syria strikes - as it happened: Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons capability 'set back for years' by bombing, Pentagon says

Three Syrian men accused of membership in Islamic extremist groups have been arrested in Germany.

Two of the men are accused of being members of Isis.

One of them is believed to have tried to recruit people in Germany to fight in Syria's civil war. 

Police and prosecutors said the men, who entered Germany as asylum-seekers in 2015, were arrested on Thursday in Saarlouis, near the French border.

Authorities said Friday a refugee home employee tipped officials off after recognizing one suspect in a video that showed him in uniform with weapons. 

Officials accuse the 23-year-old of membership in the Ahrar al-Sham group and say he tried to recruit fighters over the internet.

His alleged accomplices, 21 and 27, are accused of having belonged to Isis. 

Authorities say there's no evidence the three planned attacks in Europe. 

The German government has said it would do all it could to maintain political pressure on Russia over the suspected use of chemical weapons in Syria,

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said "serious evidence" pointed to the use of such weapons in violation of international law, and said Germany remained in close touch with the United States and other allies over how to respond.

Maria Adebahr. a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, said Germany agreed with its allies the use of chemical weapons must not go unpunished.

She said it was clear not all chemical weapons had been destroyed in Syria in a process which began in 2013. 

Russia's foreign minister has asserted the suspected chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma last weekend was fabricated with the help of an unspecified foreign intelligence agency. 

Sergey Lavrov said Russian experts have inspected the site of the attack and found no trace of chemical weapons.

He said Moscow has "irrefutable information that it was another fabrication". 

He said "intelligence agencies of a state that is now striving to spearhead a Russo-phobic campaign were involved in that fabrication". 

He did not elaborate or name the state, but seemed to be hinting at the United States, Britain or France.

The Russian embassy in the UK said it is “concerned" about cabinet's decision to "take action“.

"The preparations are being made despite lack of evidence as regards to what happened on the ground in British interpretation," it said. 

"At the request of the Syrian Government the OPCW sent a fact-finding team to Douma. The experts will arrive tomorrow. Syrian authorities will provide all the relevant security guarantees. Russia is ready to assist in ensuring its safety. We are interested in seeing independent experts there, so they can make all the necessary tests without delay.

“The conditions on the ground, now that the Russian military police is present in Douma, are appropriate for conducting investigation of the alleged incident. Russian services for chemical and radiological security visited the suspected site of the incident and did not find any traces of chemical substances. No persons treated for chemical poisoning were found in local hospitals.

“We took note of the recent statement of the UK Permanent Representative to the UN Karen Pierce, calling the idea of an investigation ”an offer worth pursuing“. What is striking is that the UK statements in favour of an independent investigation clearly contradict those automatically laying the blame on the Syrian government.

“At the same time we receive worrying reports about London pressing ahead with preparations for the military action against Syria.

“Military strikes may be used to cover up all the evidence, or lack thereof, on the ground. Such a decision, if it's taken, in violation of the international law and the Charter of the United Nations may well mark the latest in the series of the reckless military adventures by the UK.

“The infamous aggression against Iraq in 2003 immediately comes to mind, when the then-Prime Minister Tony Blair deliberately misinformed the Parliament and the public. It is well known how it ended - with Chilcot inquiry delivering a condemnatory verdict. It's essential to avoid any steps which could escalate the tensions.”

Boris Johnson has said said it was "very important that the use of chemical weapons should not go unchallenged".

Asked if the UK was being dragged along by the US on Radio 1 Newsbeat, the foreign secretary said: "We will be working with friends and partners to make sure, if we possibly can, that the use of chemical weapons does not go unchallenged, that we deter further humanitarian catastrophes caused by the use of such weapons."

UK military action in Syria would mark the latest in a series of reckless military adventures by the UK if it was taken in violation of international law, Russia's ambassador to the UK said.

Alexander Yakovenko said Russia is concerned by the decision of Theresa May's cabinet to "take action" against Syria.

Turkey's prime minister, Binali Yildirim, has said the use of chemical weapon against civilians in a Damascus suburb is "unforgivable" but said Turkey is urging all sides to refrain from actions which would cause further turmoil in Syria.

Mr Yildirim again condemned the "heinous" the attack in Douma and said the perpetrators should "pay a price." 

"However... any action that would lead to the failure or harm activities led by Turkey, Iran and Russia toward a lasting peace should be avoided," he said. He was referring to the three countries' efforts to reduce violence in Syria.