'Get ready, Russia': Donald Trump issues terrifying threat to Putin and 'gas killing animal' Assad after Kremlin vows to shoot down any missiles fired at Syria and attack US ships that launch them

 

Donald Trump (top) today used Twitter to warn that a missile attack on Syria is imminent - hours after the Kremlin vowed to shoot down any rockets fired at the Assad regime in retaliation for last week's gas atrocity. 

The US President tweeted: '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!' His threat came hours after Moscow's ambassador to Lebanon.

The last few hours have seen a dramatic ratcheting of tensions in the Middle East where Russian forces are propping up dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria and American forces are backing some of his opponents.

The US military appeared to be in position to carry out any attack order this morning (main) with a Navy destroyer - armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles - underway in the eastern Mediterranean.