The United Kingdom government motion on Syria intervention has been rejected by the British Parliament, on Thursday, Aug. 29, by a 285 to 272 margin after lawmakers refused an opposition Labour amendment calling for more information about the deployment of chemical weapons in Syria.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has asserted that such action would put a halt to human rights atrocities in Syria, while Labour party MPs said they required more evidence of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s guilt to intervene in the Middle Eastern nation’s two-year civil war.

MPs on both side of the aisle expressed doubt over British involvement in Syria during a six hour debate in the House of Commons. Cameron called back lawmakers from their summer vacation to determine whether Britain would join the possible U.S.-led military action in Syria.

Cameron admitted it was clear the British Parliament did not want action and said he “will act accordingly.”

Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said that Britain would not take part in any military action against Syria, after the vote.

“I hoped we would carry the argument but we understand there is a deep well of suspicion about involvement in the Middle East,” Hammond told BBC TV’s Newsnight program.

Sources in the White House said President Barack Obama is willing to order a military strike on Syria without the concurrence of allies or the United Nations.

Obama Administration officials said intelligence will show the attack was carried out by forces loyal to Assad although it does not tie Assad directly to the attack, the Times reported.

The officials said the White House believes the information justifies a limited strike that it expects would deter the Syrian government from further use of chemical weapons.

They said Obama is predicating the case for a military response on U.S. national interest and standing up for international standards against chemical weapons.

Obama called House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Aug. 29, to discuss prospects of a military strike against Syria, Boehner’s office said.

Boehner urged Obama to explain to Congress and the American people how a military strike on Syria “will secure U.S. objectives.”

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Thursday, Aug. 29, the administration has consulted with Congress he options that are available to the president, in terms of a specific response to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons “in a robust way.”

Plans to intervene in Syria called for the White House to hold an unclassified conference call for key members of Congress Thursday, Aug. 29, with Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel briefing lawmakers on the situation, The Hill said.

The previous day 93 members of Congress signed a letter urging Obama to consult with Congress before taking any military action against Syria.

The letter, written by Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va., had been signed by 77 Republicans and 16 Democrats by midday Wednesday, Roll Call reported.

“We strongly urge you to consult and receive authorization from Congress before ordering the use of U.S. military force in Syria,” the letter said. “Your responsibility to do so is prescribed in the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.”

The letter noted Obama has authority to act in emergencies but said deploying military forces in Syria “when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.”

“If you deem that military action in Syria is necessary, Congress can reconvene at your request,” the letter said.

Iran vowed to support the Syrian government in case of an attack, blaming the rebels for the use of chemical weapons. Iranian official

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief said a U.S. military attack on Syria would lead to the “imminent destruction” of Israel and would prove a “second Vietnam” for America.

Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said in an interview late on Wednesday, Aug. 28, with the Tasnim news agency that a U.S. strike on Syria would not help Israel.

“An attack on Syria will mean the imminent destruction of Israel,” Jafari said. “Syria will turn into a more dangerous and deadly battlefield than the Vietnam War, and in fact, Syria will become the second Vietnam for the United States.”

Iran’s Lebanese ally Hizbullah has not yet declared how it would react if Syria is attacked. 

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran and Russia are working together to prevent the attack.

Russia said on Thursday it was sending warships to the Mediterranean, but denied it was beefing up its naval force there as Western powers prepare for military action against Syria.

Interfax news agency quoted a source in the armed forces’ general staff as saying Russia was deploying a missile cruiser from the Black Sea Fleet and a large anti-submarine ship from the Northern Fleet in the “coming days.”

In Damascus, residents and opposition forces said Assad’s forces appeared to have evacuated most personnel from army and security command headquarters in the center in preparation for Western military action.

People unable to decide whether to leave for neighboring Lebanon said the border was already jammed.

“We’re hearing people are spending hours – like 12 or 14 hours – waiting in line at the border,” said Nabil, who was considering leaving town for Beirut with his wife and young daughter, “just until the strike is over.”

Diplomats based in the Middle East told Reuters the removal of some of Assad’s Scud missiles and launchers from the foothills of the Qalamoun mountains, one of Syria’s most heavily militarized districts, appeared to be part of a precautionary but limited redeployment of armaments.

-RT, UPI, Reuters, TAAN