US targets already clear ahead of attack

Satellite drones, human intelligence and electronic eavesdropping have picked out Syria's biggest targets, writes Declan Power.

A Super Hornet of the US Air Force prepares to take off from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the Red Sea last week. Photo: AP

For both diplomatic and strategic reasons, a US-led strike against Syria will be limited in terms of options and impact.

No one is looking to put boots on the ground here. There will be no deployment of ground forces. This is likely to be very much a naval operation, with a variety of missiles being launched from ship-borne platforms.

This means the most likely attack will be based around a launch of Tomahawk ...