Trump warns Russia

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Russia to

“get ready” for a missile attack on its ally Syria, suggesting imminent retaliation for last weekend’s suspected chemical weapons attack. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis took a more measured tone, saying the U.S. and its military coalition partners were still studying intelligence on the attack.

At stake is the potential for confrontation, if not outright conflict, between the U.S. and Russia, former

Cold War foes whose relations have deteriorated in recent years.

Russian lawmakers have warned the United States that Moscow would view an airstrike on Syria as a war crime and that it could trigger a direct U.s-russian military clash. Russia’s ambassador to Lebanon said any missiles fired at Syria would be shot down and the launching sites targeted.