Russia sends its biggest ever warship force to Syria after US threat to launch new airstrikes against Assad
Ten warships and two submarines, equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles, have been sent to the Mediterranean Sea
RUSSIA has released its biggest fleet of warships to the Mediterranean Sea since the start of Putin's involvement in the Syrian conflict.
Navy chiefs in St. Petersburg made the decision after the Kremlin claimed the US and Britain are preparing for a missile strike on Bashar al-Assad.
The mammoth naval attack force is made up of ten warships and two submarines, with more vessels on the way.
Russian military experts say the fleet, which has vessels carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, will support the Syrian army's campaign in rebel-held Idlib.
The US has threatened it 'will respond strongly' to chemical weapons are used by Assad's government in Idlib.
US President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton acknowledged the Syrian regime's aim to resume conflict against rebels in Idlib province.
Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, he said: "We are obviously concerned about the possibility that Assad may use chemical weapons again.
"Just so there's no confusion here, if the Syrian regime uses chemical weapons we will respond very strongly and they really ought to think about this a long time."
Idlib is a northern province of Syria and home to the last major rebel bastion in a country that has been ravaged by three years of civil war.
In April the US, UK and France launched joint missile strikes on Syrian targets in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack in the town of Douma.
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Mr Bolton also insisted the US were not looking to reimpose sanctions on Iran in a bid to oust Iran's leadership.
Israel and Syria share a border and Iran is backing Assad in his country's conflict, along with Putin's Russia and Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah.