5 things to know if US attacks Russian troops in Syria

On the other hand, Russia as a powerful ally of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has confirmed it will avenge the Pentagon if it carries out attacks.

According to analysts, there are five questions that currently surround growing US-Russia tensions.

What kind of American missiles can be launched?

Former US Defence Secretary Lawrence Corb said the US Army could use Tomahawk-type missiles.

This type of missile was used earlier by the American Army towards Syria, either last year in the province of Idlib.

“According to unofficial sources, the US deployed several cruise missiles to the Mediterranean and the Red Sea,” said Fuad Shahbasov, a Azerbaijan-based security expert and army.

What are possible targets?

The US will likely hit the Syrian Army's command and control headquarters, as well as the storage depot containing chemical weapons, according to Shahbasov, reports “Al Jazeera”, the Periscope broadcast.

Judging from the current location of US navigation missiles aboard its ships, pro-Assad fortresses along the Mediterranean, in Latakya province, it could face attacks by the sea, he said.

But, Afzal Ashraf from the Centre for Conflict Security and Terrorism said President Donald Trump had written <x0-ccerracle smart” probably referred to a new strategy invented by the American military command.

What is the purpose of the attack?

The main purpose of the attack is to prevent the use of chemical weapons, Corb says.

If we have knowledge of the location of chemical weapons they can be destroyed. If they attack chemical weapons installations, the question is why they haven't attacked them before. I doubt there is any installation of chemical weapons that the West does not know. So these attacks will be overall targets,” he said.

What is Russia's possible reaction?

Moscow's reaction may be limited if the United States does not attack Russian targets, Corb speaks.

The Russian response would include missile attacks against opposition forces and the military positioned alongside American Special Forces,” said Shahbasov.

Comparing the April 2017 Tomahaw attacks, Ashraf noted that Russians have likely given Syrians a warning that the attack was coming.

What kind of anti-missile system does Moscow have in Syria? Can I break American attacks?

Shahbazov said Russia's main anti-missile system in Syria, S300 Gladiator, was deployed in the country at the end of 2016.

However, it is also possible for Russia to use the modern S400 system that is located in Syria a long time ago. This system can challenge all modern warplanes. But Russia has not yet used this system in Syria,” he said.

Corb said Russia unable to counter United States attacks. /Periscopi/