Military options and international armed forces for missile - air strikes against Syria 2808131.

US defence officials recently said a destroyer armed with cruise missiles – one of four warships in the region – has been stationed in the eastern Mediterranean sea. Military transporters have also been spotted at Britain's Akrotiri airbase on Cyprus, less than 100 miles from the Syrian coast.

Reports from the region suggest the US is gearing up for a swift military action, possibly as soon as Thursday, in a punitive show of force against President Bashar al-Assad. Syria has denied its forces were responsible for a chemical attack in a suburb of Damascus, which is believed to have killed hundreds.

BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said any military strikes would probably focus on command centres believed to be involved in the use of chemical weapons. She said cruise missiles could be launched from US ships in the Gulf or the Mediterranean, or Royal Navy vessels including submarine HMS Tireless.

Mr Cameron will chair a meeting of the National Security Council on Wednesday, which will include senior military chiefs and Cabinet ministers, to finalise options for any military strike.

British sources over the weekend suggested that the most likely option would involve Naval assets taking part in cruise missile attacks on strategic Assad regime targets inside Syria.