Moscow on Wednesday warned that a risk of a direct Russia-U.S. military clash in Syria "is higher than before", with a Russian envoy saying that U.S. missiles flying over the war-ravaged country would be shot down.
"Risk of direct Russia-U.S. military clash in Syria exists; it is higher than before the incident in Syria's Douma," a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry told journalists in Moscow on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
Meanwhile, Russian Envoy to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin said Russia has the right to down American missiles in Syria.
"In case of American aggression, the missiles will be downed," Zasypkin told the Lebanese media.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he hoped all sides would exercise restraint and avoid steps that could result in region destabilization.
"The situation is very tense. It dictates the necessity of the most intensive monitoring. We still hope that all parties will avoid any steps which can significantly destabilize the already fragile situation in the region," he said.
In Kremlin, everyone supports an objective investigation of the incident in Syria's Douma, he said.
The U.S. President Donald Trump, however, did not appear to give any concessions.
"Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!' You shouldn't be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!' Trump tweeted.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson later said Trump's missiles could destroy evidence of the suspected chemical attack in Douma, reminding that inspectors from Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons were in Syria.
Closer to 'red buttons'
Russian military expert Denis Korkodinov told Anadolu Agency the exchange of mutual accusations between Russia and the U.S. showed that the conflict had taken an extremely dangerous turn.
The parties are finding themselves one step closer to the use of "red buttons", Korkodinov said.
"The risk of open military confrontation between the countries is rapidly increasing. Such a situation is dangerous because at any moment a war can start, where Russia has the role of the main target," he said.
He recalled that on March 10, 2018, Moscow brought all kinds of troops, primarily concentrated near the western and southern borders, to increased combat readiness in order to repel any acts of armed aggression.
"The parties have mutually demonstrated that in the negotiation process they have reached the point of no return, when any occasion on the foreign policy field can be considered as a declaration of war. This is a dangerous trend that puts the world on the brink of disaster," he said.
On March 13, Russian head of General Staff spoke about preparing for a provocation following the use of suspected chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta that would be a preposition for the U.S. airstrikes on Damascus. The military head promised that Russia would down missiles and its carriers.
On April 8, the White Helmets in Syria's Eastern Ghouta alleged the Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime forces carried out a chemical attack on targets in the Damascus suburb's Duma district that left dozens of civilians dead.
On Feb. 24, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2401 which called for a month-long cease-fire in Syria-especially in Eastern Ghouta -- to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Despite the resolution, the regime and its allies early this month launched a major ground offensive backed by Russian air power aimed at capturing opposition-held parts of Eastern Ghouta.
Home to some 400,000 people, the suburb has remained the target of a crippling regime siege for the last five years.
