May, Trump say Russia should break ties with Assad

British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke on Monday to US President Donald Trump and agreed that "a window of opportunity" exists to persuade Russia to break ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, May's office said.

A spokeswoman for the prime minister said Trump had thanked May for her support following last week's US military action in Syria against the Assad government.

The White House later on Monday said Trump had spoken with May and separately with German Chancellor Angela Merkel by telephone about the US attack and thanked them for their support.

It said in a statement that May and Merkel expressed support for the US action and agreed with Trump on the importance of holding Assad accountable.

In a shift in Washington's strategy, US missiles hit a Syrian airbase last week in retaliation for what the United States and its allies say was a poison gas attack by Syria's military in which scores of civilians died. The Syrian government has denied it was behind the assault.

Trump had previously appeared disinclined to intervene against the Syrian leader and the attack raised expectations that he might now be ready to adopt a tougher-than-expected stance with Russia, Assad's main backer.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to travel to Moscow this week and the spokeswoman for May said the two leaders had agreed during their conversation that the visit was an opportunity to make progress towards a solution.

"The prime minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russia that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest," the spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday that the missile strikes damaged or destroyed 20 percent of Syria's operational aircraft, as well as fuel and ammunition sites and air defence capabilities, despite reports that the Syrian military used the airbase less than 24 hours after it was targeted.

"The Syrian government has lost the ability to refuel or re-arm aircraft at Shayrat airfield and at this point, use of the runway is of idle military interest," Mattis said in a statement.

"The Syrian government would be ill-advised ever again to use chemical weapons."