Global tension rising fast

Russia has warned that US cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base could have "extremely serious" consequences, as President Donald Trump's first major foray into a foreign conflict opened up a rift between Moscow and Washington.
Key points:

• Russian diplomat warns of consequences for regional and international stability
• US signals new sanctions against Damascus are likely following the missile strikes
• UN Security Council negotiating resolution to condemn the gas attack in Syria

US warships in the Mediterranean Sea launched dozens of Tomahawk missiles that hit the airstrip, aircraft and fuel stations of al-Shayrat air base, which the Pentagon says was involved in a chemical weapons attack this week.
It was Mr Trump's biggest foreign policy decision since taking office in January and the kind of direct intervention in Syria's six-year-old civil war his predecessor Barack Obama avoided.
The strikes were in reaction to what Washington said was a chemical weapons attack by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, that killed at least 70 people in rebel-held territory.
The US action catapulted Washington into confrontation with Russia, which has military advisers on the ground aiding its close ally Mr Assad.
What changed Trump's mind?


Last week, the Trump administration said getting involved in the Syrian conflict would be "silly". Today the US carried out a military strike against an airbase in the country.

"We strongly condemn the illegitimate actions by the US," Russia's deputy UN envoy, Vladimir Safronkov, told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
"The consequences of this for regional and international stability could be extremely serious."
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev claimed the US strikes were one step away from clashing with Russia's military.
But US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Russia's response to the attack on Syria showed the nation continued to support Mr Assad.
Mr Tillerson said the reaction was "very disappointing" but "not all that surprising".
US officials informed Russian forces ahead of the missile strikes, and avoided hitting Russian personnel.
Satellite imagery suggests the base houses Russian special forces and helicopters, part of the Kremlin's effort to help Mr Assad fight Islamic State and other militant groups.

Dave R.