US continues to seek ‘international coalition’ for action against Syria

The United States is continuing to seek an "international coalition" for action against Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians, after the UK parliament rejected a resolution endorsing such action, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has said.

Al Jazeera reported Hagel saying that the US would continue to seek international partners who would "act together" in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack on August 21.

Hagel's comments came hours after UK Prime Minister David Cameron was dealt an unexpected blow in parliament, with MPs voting against authorising military action in Syria by 285 to 272 votes.

Thursday evening's vote was non-binding, but in practice the rejection of military strikes means Cameron's hands are tied.

Despite the outcome of the vote, the US said it would "continue to consult" with London, "one of our closest allies and friends".

"President Obama's decision-making will be guided by what is in the best interests of the United States," a White House statement said.

It added that Obama "believes that there are core interests at stake for the United States and that countries who violate international norms regarding chemical weapons need to be held accountable".

On Friday, Cameron said that he regretted the failure of the parliament to approve the action, but that he hoped that "the American public, the American people and President Obama will understand" the need to listen to the will of his parliament. 

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Military sites in Syria are packed with soldiers who have been effectively imprisoned by their superiors due to doubts about their loyalty, ex-soldiers say, making them possible casualties in any U.S.-led air strikes.

"Some soldiers are physically locked up in rooms and others are given small jobs to do around the base but their weapons are taken from them. They are not taken out of the base," said an ex-soldier who, until three months ago, worked at an artillery base on the outskirts of Damascus.

He also told Reuters that trapped soldiers would likely die in military strikes.