WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES OF DEAD BODIES AND PEOPLE SAID TO BE SUFFERING AFTER A GAS ATTACK

Fighter jets race into the sky at Turkey's Incirlik air base -- a strategic site for the United States Air Force and less than an hour's flying time from the Syrian border.

Attention has switched here as the U.S. and some allies weigh up direct military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad following a suspected chemical attack last week.

U.S. and European officials are said to be aiming for a limited strategic assault, which could come within days -- they say Assad carried out a poison gas attack that killed hundreds of Syrian civilians.

During a visit to Brunei, U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday that any military strike would follow international consensus.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES DEFENSE SECRETARY, CHUCK HAGEL SAYING:

"And I think it was made clear by President Obama, and I have said it in a number of occasi