Allies condition Trump support after warnings of attacks in Syria

But they are urging Washington to avoid a hasty response, saying that before the punishment starts, more evidence is needed that the chemical attack is indeed carried out by the Syrian government.

In very direct terms, US President Donald Trump warned on Twitter Wednesday that the military response is coming.

He wrote: “Russia has declared it will shoot any rocket that would be launched against Syria. Prepare Russia, because they will come, beautiful, young and intelligent! You shouldn't be partners with an animal that kills its people with gas and enjoys doing it! ”

Russian officials did not delay in responding, saying that if there is an American blow, then Russia will drop the missiles and target positions from which they were issued.

“Smart missiles should fly towards terrorists, not towards the legal government that has been fighting international terrorism for several years on its territory”, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Facebook.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that all parties involved in Syria must refrain from actions that could destabilise the region.

In the climate of heated exchanges in social media, with threats and warnings about a military confrontation between the US and Russia, Britain, France and Australia have provided support for an American missile attack, but conditioning their support.

They are questioning the preventative effect of missile attacks, stressing that the US military response a year ago to a sarin gas attack in the northern Syrian province of Idlib has not stopped Assad from launching further chemical attacks, mainly with chlorine bombs thrown by Syrian regime helicopters.

In a telephone conversation with President Trump late Tuesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May offered her support, but according to British officials, it said Britain requires more evidence of who is behind the alleged chemical attack Saturday in an area on the outskirts of Damascus, held by rebels. The attack has left at least 40 dead and up to 500 injured.

Inspectors of the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) prepare to visit the Douma suburb, where the attack took place, other Western allies said no action should be taken without explaining other facts.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said France is ready to engage in punitive acts, if confirmed that President Assad has crossed the red line and used chemical weapons. But it seems that he wants the rebuttal shocks limited to Syrian chemical weapons objects.

While the US and their Western allies are signaling a possible military response, analysts say the element of surprise has been lost and that the Syrian government and its military supporters, Russia and Iran, are being given sufficient time to prepare.

Of course, the problem is that the effect of surprise is completely lost. Also, the Syrian regime, Russia and Iran have been given enough time to prepare themselves with anti-aircraft batteries and to empty potential targets”, says Olivier Guita, managing director in GlobalStret, a security and geopolitical risk firm.

He says the situation is now different from 2013, when Mr. Trump's predecessor Barack Obama threatened to hit Assad for a chemical attack on rebels and civilians in a suburb of Damascus.

At that time, the consequences would have been much smaller because Iran and Russia were very few in attendance in Syria”, he says. “Although a blow against Assad is more than delayed since 2013, there is now the risk of explosion, escalation and first real fighting between Russia and the West, opening the door to a longer conflict,” he warns.

This fear is apparently affecting European governments allied with the United States, including some members of Prime Minister Teresa May's ruling Conservative Party, who worry that the Trump administration does not have a comprehensive strategy for Syria.

French President Emmanuel Macron said a decision would be made “in the coming days” and that any air strike would target Syrian government chemical objects.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop made known today her country's support for any military action that “will have a definite objective, will be calibrated and proportional. ”

The World Health Organisation said Wednesday that according to reports by its partners, 500 people who requested medical treatment on Saturday showed signs and symptoms of exposure to toxic chemicals. The organisation expressed outrage over the alleged use of chemical weapons and requested immediate access to the area to provide health care.

On Tuesday to the UN Security Council, Russia vetoed a plan drafted by the United States, envisioning the establishment of a commission to investigate and determine the responsibility of the chemical weapon attack.

The situation in Syria is tense after a suspected chemical gun attack Saturday in eastern Guton, where at least 40 people were killed.

The United States and some of their allies have blamed Syrian forces for the attack, while Syria and Russia have denied allegations that the chemical weapons attack has been undertaken by President Bashar al-Assad's army.

Russia's Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zasipkin, warned on Hezbollah's al-Manar television last night that an American blow to Syria would cause a major escalation of war there.

Earlier, President Trump warned that the responsible persons would pay a “high price” and spoke several times on the phone with his British and French counterparts for a possible response to the chemical attack.

“We are seeking a coordinated response, no matter what this response may be,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Tuesday.

In addition to blaming Syria, President Trump further blamed Assad supporters in Iran and Russia for the attack on eastern Ghoutan. An international organisation for monitoring chemical weapons said it would send a team to investigate the incident.

“DO NOT There is LIGHT”

According to analysts, an extremely powerful response to the recent chemical attack jeopardises the escalation of civil war in Syria and the increasing military tensions between major world powers, which have all allies on the ground.

There is no easy answer here,” told retired American Voice Admiral Michael Mullen. “is delicate and dangerous. I'm worried that this could quickly expand”, he added.

Russia has warned of <x0) grave consequences” if the United States attacks Assad.

The White House said Mr. Trump cancelled a trip to Latin America, which was scheduled Friday, so that the “provides American response to Syria”. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis also cancelled travel plans within the country.

White House officials refused to say whether these movements reflected the possibility of prolonged military action in Syria, or whether this action would constitute more than a single air strike.

There are over two thousand American troops in Syria. A coalition led by the United States undertook thousands of air strikes, mainly against the Islamic State and other extremist rebels.

Almost a year ago, the US issued 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles to a Syrian air base in response to another attack with chemical weapons. / VoA