Syrian tyrant Assad hides aircraft in safety of Russian hangars after Trump’s ‘missiles are coming’ tweet tips him off
SYRIAN dictator Bashar al-Assad has been hiding his warplanes within Russia’s bases to save them from being obliterated by an impending US missile blitz.
American spooks have tracked Syria's aircraft after they were moved to facilities under the Kremlin's control — believing Washington wouldn’t dare bomb them.
But Syria’s attempts to shelter its aircraft could hamper efforts by Britain, the US and France to inflict serious damage on Assad’s military following Saturday’s gassing of hundreds of civilians.
But after Donald Trump made it very loud and clear on Wednesday that his military was about to attack in a bombastic tweet, the regime has had plenty of time to prepare for the strikes.
Trump's tweet read: “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!”
Perhaps releasing the error of his ways, the following day he appeared to backpedal in a bizarre tweet.
He said: “Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all.”
But maybe he remembered a tweet in August 2013 during the Obama administration.
Back then he tweeted: “Why do we keep broadcasting when we are going to attack Syria.
“Why can’t we just be quiet and, if we attack at all, catch them by surprise?
What we know so far:
- A chemical attack, using "poisonous chlorine gas" unfolded in the besieged town of Douma on Saturday
- Dozens of people were reportedly killed, with those caught up in the sickening attack suffering "oral foaming, cyanosis, and corneal burns"
- The World Health Organisation has confirmed that 500 people showed symptoms of being exposed to "toxic chemicals"
- US President Donald Trump declared on Monday that a forceful response would be made within 24 to 48 hours
- Senior Russian officials warned that Moscow would shoot down US rockets if Washington launched strikes
- Trump tweeted Wednesday that Russia should "get ready" for "smart" missiles
- US warplanes have been spotted on the border
- President Emmanuel Macron that France has proof that the Syrian government launched chlorine gas attacks and said France would not tolerate "regimes that think everything is permitted
- Theresa May met held a war Cabinet agreed on the need to "take action" to deter further chemical weapons use by Assad
- Sources in Westminster suggested US-led strikes are possible this weekend – before Parliament returns from its Easter break on Monday.
The despot reportedly fled Damascus by military convoy and is holed up at the Russian-controlled Khmeimim airbase on the Syrian coast.
Footage seen by the is said to show Assad inside a room with no windows or drapes alongside Iranian officials as they anticipate an imminent US attack.
Official pictures also show him in a small room bunker like room with the delegations from Iran, a key ally and arch enemy of the United States.
Iranian and Russian allies are effectively running Syria in his absence as he's banned from making phone calls in case he gives his location away, it's claimed.
Meanwhile sources say the dictator's lavish palaces could be blitzed in a shock and awe strike.
A bombing campaign is expected to have a wider scope than last year when America fired Tomahawk missiles on an airbase following a chemical strike bearing similarities to the recent one.
Meanwhile the Assad regime has begun hiding its military assets alongside those belonging to Russia in the hope of protecting them as the largest US air and navy strike force since the 2003 Iraq war set off towards them.
US intelligence agencies have tracked Syrian aircraft being moved from their bases to those under Russian control or with a large Russian presence, in the belief that Washington will be reluctant to hit Russian assets.
US officials said they had proof Assad gassed his own people as it was revealed a deadly nerve agent was used in the attack, which killed 70 people.
Sources last night claimed America was considering striking a number of sites including two Syrian airfields, a research centre and a chemical weapons facility.
Meanwhile, Syria’s military was also said to be moving jets to Russian-controlled airfields in the hopes that Washington would leave these alone.
In a sign of a desperate attempt to stop any reprisals escalating into a full blown war, the Kremlin said a hotline between Russian and US military in Syria was “active”.
President Trump had plunged the West into fresh uncertainty by appearing to suggest he was having second thoughts on military action.
Taking to Twitter, the President said: “I never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!”
MOST READ IN NEWS
But challenged about Syria just hours later, he told the US media: “We’re looking very seriously, very closely at that whole situation and we’ll see what happens folks.”
French President Emmanuel Macron separately insisted the West had “proof” Assad was behind the Douma massacre.
And he said France and the US would decide on a response “at a time of our choosing, when we judge it to be the most useful and the most effective”.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.