US 'smart missiles' should target 'terrorists', not 'legitimate' Syrian government: Russia

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that U.S. "smart missiles" should be aimed at terrorists, and not at the Syrian government, as it commented on U.S. President Donald Trump`s warning of a missile strike in Syria.

"Smart missiles should fly towards terrorists, and not towards the lawful government which has been fighting international terrorism on its territory for several years," Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, wrote on Facebook.

Trump on Wednesday warned of a forthcoming response to suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria, declaring that "smart" missiles will be coming and blasting Moscow for standing by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

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Zakharova said that a possible U.S. missile strike could be an attempt to destroy evidence of an alleged chemical weapon attack in the Syrian town of Douma.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Russia of a forthcoming response to suspected chemical attack in Syria, declaring that missiles "will be coming" and blasting Moscow for standing by Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"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!" Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.

In another tweet, Trump said that the US relationship with Russia is worse than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War.

Russian lawmakers have warned the United States that Moscow would view an airstrike on Syria as a war crime, saying it could trigger a direct military clash, reports said.