US, Russia threaten missile face-off over gas attack in Syria

The United States of American and Russia are both ready for a missile stand-off over the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian rebel-held town of Douma if threats by both countries are anything to go by.

Russia’s ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin had earlier said in an interview with Hezbollah-owned al-Manar TV that his country would respond to any US missiles fired at neighbouring Syria by shooting them down and targeting their launch sites.

“If there is a US missile attack, we – in line with both Putin and Russia’s chief of staff’s remarks – will shoot down US rockets and even the sources that launched the missiles,” Zasypkin said.

Reacting to the comments by Russia, US President Donald Trump in an early morning tweet told Moscow to ‘get ready’ for Syria missile attacks.

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“Nice and new and ‘smart!'” missile attacks in Syria after an alleged gas attack on the last rebel stronghold in the country,” Trump tweeted.

Trump further chided Russia for its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Wednesday’s tweet, saying it “shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!”

However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded to Trump’s tweet saying: “Smart missiles should fly towards terrorists, not [Syria’s] lawful government, which has spent several years fighting against international terrorism on its territory.”

The United States and its perennial rivals Russia have both been recently engaged in a war of words over the chemical attack in Douma.

The attack which took place on Saturday killed dozens of people, including many children and women.

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