Missiles 'will be coming' to Syria, Trump says after Russia warns against U.S. strike

U.S. PresidentDonald Trump warned Russia on Wednesday of imminent militaryaction in Syria over a suspected poison gas attack, declaringthat missiles "will be coming" and lambasting Moscow forstanding by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Trump was reacting to a warning from Russia on Tuesday thatany U.S. missiles fired at Syria over the deadly assault on arebel enclave would be shot down and the launch sites targeted.

His comments raised fears of direct conflict over Syria forthe first time between the two world powers backing opposing sides in the country's protracted civil war, which hasaggravated instability across the Middle East.

"Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired atSyria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!'" Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.

In response, Russia's foreign ministry said in a Facebookpost that "smart missiles should fly towardterrorists, not towardthe lawful government."

Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said any U.S.missile salvo could be an attempt to destroy evidence of thereported gas attack in the Syrian town of Douma, for whichDamascus and Moscow have denied any responsibility.

The chief of Russia's armed forces, Valery Gerasimov, made it clear that Russia wouldn't hesitate to try to shoot down U.S. cruise missiles and targetthe "platforms" from which they were launched.

Those "platforms" would be U.S. destroyers such as the USS Donald Cook, stationed off the Syrian coast.

Putin advises 'common sense'

However, other statements by Russian officials Wednesday suggest the political leadership in Moscow may be trying to dial down the rhetoric to provide some wiggle room to react in case of a strike.

Speaking to a group of newly minted foreign ambassadors in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin alluded to the crisis only briefly, saying he hoped "common sense" would prevail.

His chief spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said, "Hopefully, all countries will refrain from steps that, on the one hand, would be totally unwarranted and on the other hand, may exacerbate the already fragile situation in the region."

In Douma, dozens of inhabitants died and hundreds were injuredin the attack, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

U.S. assessing information

U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, striking a cautious tone after Trump's threat of missile strikes, said the United Stateswas assessing intelligence about the suspected attack.

Asked if he had seen enough evidence to blame Assad, Mattissaid: "We're still working on this."

The U.S. military is ready to provide military options, ifappropriate, he added. It was unclear if his remarks reflectedunease about Trump's apparent move toward military action.

Two U.S. government sources told Reuters the United Statesstill did not have 100 per cent solid evidence of what nerveagent was used in Syria and where it came from. However, thereis some evidence it was sprayed from helicopters, they said.

After Trump's tweet, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights a British-based war monitor with a network of sources on theground reported that pro-government forces were emptying mainairports and military air bases.

The Syrian military has also beenrepositioning some air assets to avoid the fallout from possiblemissile strikes, U.S. officials told Reuters.

The Russian military said later it had observed movements ofU.S. naval forces in the Gulf. Any U.S. strike would probablyinvolve the navy in waters within range of Syria, given the riskto aircraft from Russian and Syrian air defence systems.

The Syrian foreign ministry accused the United States, whichhas supported some rebel groups in Syria's conflict, of using"fabrications and lies" as an excuse to hit its territory.

"We are not surprised by such a thoughtless escalation by aregime like the United States regime, which sponsored terrorismin Syria and still does," the state news agency SANA cited anofficial source in the ministry as saying.

Talking about timing

After the Douma attack, the insurgent group dug in there,Jaish al-Islam, finally agreed to withdraw. That clinched a hugevictory for Assad, crushing a long rebellion in the easternGhouta region near Damascus.

In London, British Prime Minister Theresa May said all theindications pointed to Syrian government responsibility for theDouma attack and such "a shocking and barbaric act" could not gounchallenged.

"We're rapidly reaching an understanding of what happened onthe ground," she told reporters. "We'll be working with ourclosest allies to consider how we can ensure that thoseresponsible are held to account."

The BBC reported later that May was ready to give thego-ahead for Britain to take part in military action. She wouldnot seek approval from Parliament, the BBC said, despite callsfrom the opposition Labour Party for Parliament to be given asay.

A spokesperson for May declined to comment on the BBC report.

GRAPHIC WARNING: Hospital scrambles to treat victims of alleged gas attack in Syria

6 years ago

Duration 1:11

Attack kills dozens in Douma, but government denies involvement

Oil prices jumped to their highest level in more than threeyears on Wednesday after Trump's missile warning, and U.S. stockindex futures fell sharply amid alarm over possible Russian-U.S.conflict over Syria.

White House officials did not immediately provide any moredetail about Trump's remarks. The U.S. Defence Department saidit did not comment on "potential future military actions."

500 treated from chemical weapons

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that 43people had died in Saturday's attack on Douma from "symptomsconsistent with exposure to highly toxic chemicals," and morethan 500 in all had been treated.

The WHO cautioned that it has no formal role in forensicinquiries into the use of chemical weapons. International inspectors are seeking clearance from Damascus to visit Doumaunder safe conditions to determine whether globally bannedmunitions were used, though they will not assign blame.

Moscow and Washington blocked attempts by each other at theUnited Nations Security Council on Tuesday to set upinternational investigations into chemical weapons attacks inSyria.

Moscow's threat to down U.S. missiles came from itsambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zasypkin, who said it was basedon previous statements byPutin and theRussian armed forces chief of staff.

The Russian military said on March 13 that it would respondto any U.S. strike on Syria by targeting any missiles and launchers involved. Russia is Assad's most powerfulally, and its devastating air power has helped him wrest back large areas of territory from rebels since 2015.

Zasypkin also said a clash between Russia and the UnitedStates over Syria "should be ruled out and therefore we areready to hold negotiations."

Airlines warned

With tensions growing, however, pan-European air trafficcontrol agency Eurocontrol warned airlines to exercise caution in the eastern Mediterranean due to the possible launch of airstrikes into Syria over the next 72 hours.

Eurocontrol said that air-to-ground and cruise missilescould be used within that period and there could be intermittent disruptions of radio navigation equipment.

Both Russia and Iran, Assad's other main ally, have warnedhis enemies against military action in recent days, underliningtheir commitment to the Syrian government they have armed andsupported through years of conflict.

Ali Akbar Velayati, the top adviser to Iranian SupremeLeader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said during a visit to Damascus on Tuesday that an Israeli attack on an airbase in Syriaearlier this week would "not remain without response."

Israel held top-level security consultations on Wednesdayamid concern it could be targeted by Syria or Iran if the U.S.strikes Syrian government forces.

Risk of 'uncontrollable escalation'

Syria's Russian-supplied air defences shot down an IsraeliF-16 jet in February during a bombing run against whatIsrael described as Iranian-backed positions in Syria.

Last year, the U.S.carried out strikes from two navy destroyers against a Syrian airbase after another toxic gas attack on a rebel-controlled pocket.