(Source: VNA)

The suspected chemical attack followed the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK which resulted ina war of words and tit-for-tat sanctions by Russia and the US. While the US weighs up a military response to the latest incident in Syria, Russia says the allegation is fabricated and warns of retaliation.

NATO’s intervention in the former Yugoslavia in 1999 triggered the first major confrontation between Russia and the US since the Cold War, followed by the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the toppling ofLibyan leaderMuammar Gaddafiin 2011.

Russia-US relations worsened after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and a conflict erupted between Ukraine and Russian-back insurgents. The US has imposed visa and economic sanctions including freezing the assets of a number of Russian politicians, businesspeople, companies and banks. Russia slashed the number of US diplomats in Russia in response.

Tensions continued to rise with Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and the poisoning of the former Russian spy and his daughter. Russia expelled 60 US diplomats and closed the US Consulate in St. Petersburgin retaliation for new US sanctions on 38 Russian individuals and organizations. The alleged chemical attack in Syria could ignite open conflict between the Syrian government backed by Russia, Turkey, and Iran and the Syrian opposition backed by the US and its western allies.

British assault submarines have been deployed near Syria and 4 US destroyers and  and 2 US submarines carrying a total of 400 Tomahawk missiles are ready to strike. Syrian and Russian forces are on high alert and prepared for countermeasures.

 Since President Obama and President Medvedev announced the reset of US-Russia ties in 2009, bilateral relations have been nothing but confrontation and sanctions. Russia is sensitive to any perceived threat to its security while the US and the West will not accept a powerful Russia which threatens their influence, particularly in the Middle East.