Syria bombing: US looks at Russia’s role as Putin warns of hit to relations

Trump administration officials are investigating whether Russia played a part in this week’s deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria.

This Department of Defence picture shows a battle damage assessment image of Shayrat Airfield, Syria. Picture: AFP

The relationship between America and Russia has suffered a “significant blow” because of Donald Trump’s decision to launch a missile strike against Syria, Russian president Vladimir Putin has warned.

His comments came as it was revealed Trump administration officials were investigating whether Russia played a part in this week’s deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria.

US military officials said they were looking at whether a drone that was seen hovering over the site of the chemical weapons attack belonged to Russia or Syria.

If it was found to belong to Russia — and if Russia had knowledge of, or involvement in the attack — it would plunge US-Russian relations to a low not seen since the Cold War.

The US launched 59 cruise missiles on the Shayrat airbase in Syria yesterday after the Syrian airforce carried out a chemical weapons attack in northern Syria which killed at least 80 people including many children.

Russia hit back at the US, describing the missile strike as an act of aggression and suspending an agreement to minimise the risk of in-flight incidents between US and Russian aircraft operating over Syria.

The suspension of the agreement, which aims to ensure no collisions or misunderstandings between US and Russian fighters in the skies over Syria, increases the danger of a clash between US and Russian forces.

“President Putin considers the American strikes against Syria an aggression against a sovereign government in violations of the norms of international law, and under a far-fetched pretext,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “This step by Washington is causing significant damage to Russian-American relations, which are already in a deplorable state.

“Of course, Syria is our ally, considering that we are helping the Syrian armed forces at the Syrian leadership’s request.”

Syrian officials claimed the airstrikes killed six soldiers and nine civilians. A Russian military spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov claimed the effectiveness of the military strike was “extremely low” with only 23 or the 59 missiles hitting their targets.

In response to the attack Russia has said it will help to strengthen Syria’s air defences and would dispatch a frigate to the Mediterranean.

Russia also attacked the US in a special session of the UN Security Council, saying the ‘illegitimate action’ by the US would encourage terrorism.

“The consequences of this for regional and international stability could be extremely serious,” Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov said.”

Mr Trump said the attack was in America’s vital national security interest because it would help to deter the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.

The missile strike makes it unlikely that the US and its allies will allow Assad to be involved in any political solution in Syria.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US would lead an international push to remove Assad from power.

The missile strike occurred as Mr Trump was meeting with China’s president Xi Jinping at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

White House press Secretary Sean Spicer said that Mr Trump told Mr Xi of the missile strike as the two leaders were finishing dinner on the first evening of their summit which continues today.