BRITISH submarines loaded with Tomahawk missiles have reportedly been moved within striking distance of Syria as the world braces for all-out war.

Theresa May ordered a ‘war cabinet’ meeting to take place today after saying "all the indications" suggest tyrant Bashar al-Assad was behind the nerve gas atrocity.

21 Brit subs are to be moved towards Syria

As the threat of US-led strikes loom, Russia is understood to have been readying for a naval battle off the coast of Syria.

Flights in the area were also suspended as fears of a counter-attack grow following Saturday’s chemical weapon massacre.

Donald Trump earlier warned Russia and Syria to “get ready” because “nice, new and smart missiles will be coming”.

The US President chaired a cabinet meeting on Wednesday where he is said to have held Syria and Russia responsible for the chemical weapons attack.

21 British submarines are to be positioned within firing range of Syria Credit: EPA

21 Satellite image showing Russian naval movements in Tartus Port, Syria Credit: @imagesatint

21 The US could lead a strike against the Syrian regime as early as tomorrow evening Credit: @imagesatint

What we know so far...

Mrs May has not yet reached a final decision on whether Britain would join any strikes by the US and France, but wants to be able to act swiftly.

Speaking in Birmingham, the PM said it was now clear the Syrian regime was responsible for the deadly chemical attack in Douma in a marked hardening of her language on the crisis.

She also said Russia’s “appalling” decision to veto attempts by the United Nations determine responsibility meant there was now “no role” for the body.

Mrs May said: “All the indications are that the Syrian regime was responsible and we will be working with our closest allies on how we can ensure that those who are responsible are held to account.”

21 More than 70 people - including young kids - were killed in the gas attack on Saturday Credit: AP:Associated Press

21 Some of the tots suffered horrific symptoms Credit: AFP or licensors

Slamming the “shocking and barbaric” attack that claimed the lives of at least 40 people, she said: “The use of chemical weapons cannot go unchallenged.”

Military chefs were said to have ordered two attack subs laden with Tomahawk missiles towards the region, according to the Telegraph.

The decision comes after a tense day of threats and military manoeuvrings.

The Russian navy has been leaving the Syrian port of Tartus as Donald Trump warned Moscow to be ready for retaliatory action over the chemical attack on the town of Douma.

​Children and adults are treated following reports of a deadly gas attack ​in the Syrian rebel enclave of Douma

US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman is leading a strike force to the region as Trump builds up its firepower targeted at the Middle-Eastern country.

A navigational warning has been put in place around Cyprus and Kuwait Airways has said it has suspended flights to Beirut.

The cabinet discussion follows Donald Trump's national security team meeting to discuss a response to Syrian tyrant Bashar al-Assad apparently using chemical weapons on his own civilians.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Vice President Mike Pence chaired the meeting.

She said there have been no decisions yet on whether to strike Syria despite the President's tweet this morning.

Sanders said the US was confident of the Syrian government and its Russian allies for Saturday's deadly attack in Douma.

Opposition activists and rescuers say at least 40 people were killed.

Sanders said: "The president holds Syria and Russia responsible for this chemical weapons attack."

The Telegraph quoted government sources as saying Britain was "doing everything necessary" to be able to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles from submarines against military targets in Syria.

21 Theresa May during her visit to the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, in Walsall

21 Donald Trump could approve a strike on Syrian targets to start as soon as tomorrow evening Credit: EPA

President Donald Trump promises major decisions over the next 24 to 48 hours on Syria after 'heinous attack' with 'banned chemical weapons'

Britain’s military base in Cyprus could find itself in the firing line should any US strike on Syria trigger a military response by Russia.

Russia’s ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin said he was repeating a warning given by President Putin when he said that “if there is a strike by the Americans, then... the missiles will be downed and even the sources from which the missiles were fired”.

General Sir Richard Barrons, a former commander of the Joint Forces Command, called the comments a threat of war: “He’s saying they are going to try and sink ships, sink submarines and shoot aircraft out of the sky — that’s war.”

British base on Cyprus could be Russian target Britain's military base on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus could be a target should Russia take retaliatory action against the threatened strike on Syria. Moscow has said it will shoot down any missiles fired at Syria and target the places where they have been launched. A former commander of the Joint Forces Command General Sir Richard Barrons said such a comment was an act of war. He said: "He's saying they are going to try and sink ships, sink submarines and shoot aircraft out of the sky - that's war. Britain has maintained two bases on the island since 1960 with the island became a republic. It also has a number of other "retained sites" on the island including a radar station and several ports.

Donald Trump told Russia earlier today to "get ready" for American "smart" missiles heading to Syria while blasting Putin for partnering with "Gas Killing Animal" Bashar Assad.

The US President issued the extraordinary threat on Twitter following comments from senior Russian officials that Vladimir Putin's military would strike US bomb sites in retaliation to American aggression.

Trump tweeted: "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!"

The Republican firebrand then added: "Our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War.

"There is no reason for this. Russia needs us to help with their economy, something that would be very easy to do, and we need all nations to work together. Stop the arms race?

Responding to Trump's tweet, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said: “Smart missiles should fly towards terrorists, not a legal government."

The spokeswoman also reportedly said that US “smart missiles” could be an attempt to destroy evidence of an alleged chemical attack on the ground.

A Syrian government spokesperson called Trump's threats to attack "reckless" saying that they endangered international peace and security, reports The Associated Press.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says Assad forces have cleared airports and fled military bases after Trump’s chilling rocket threats.

Trump later appeared to blame Democrats and the "fake and corrupt Russia investigation" for the "bad blood" with Moscow.

He tweeted: "Much of the bad blood with Russia is caused by the Fake & Corrupt Russia Investigation, headed up by the all Democrat loyalists, or people that worked for Obama."

21 US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman heads towards Syria with its strike force Credit: Reuters

21 Servicemen say goodbye to their families as the US strike force heads to Syria Credit: Reuters

Alexander Zasypkin, Russia's ambassador to Lebanon, said Putin would destroy American missiles if Washington carried out a retaliatory strike.

“If there is a strike by the Americans then... the missiles will be downed and even the sources from which the missiles were fired,” he told Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV.

Kuwait Airways has announced it while stop all flights to Beirut from Thursday until further notice over the security warnings from Cypriot authorities saying it is dangerous to fly in the air space surrounding Lebanon.

Navigation warnings have also been put in place surrounding Cyprus from ground level to 66,000ft.

21 A navigational warning has been put in place surrounding Cyprus

Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft missile defence system Any strike from the US-led coalition on Bashar al-Assad’s regime is likely to be met by Russia’s alleged state-of-the-art S-400 anti-aircraft missile defence system. The system is said to be able to shoot down 80 planes at once from 248 miles away and is designed to destroy aircraft and missiles, including ballistic ones. It is also reportedly capable of travelling at 10,000mph. The $400m per unit system was first deployed in Syria in 2015 when tensions between Russia and Turkey were raised due to a Turkish jet being shot down but remains largely untested. Fears over the S-400 are rising after Moscow's ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zasypkin, this morning said any US rockets fired at Syria would be shot down and the launch sites targeted.

Yevgeny Serebrennikov, deputy chairman of Moscow’s Defence Committee, also said Russia would respond “immediately” to a US attack on Russia’s soldiers in Syria.

Speaking with Sputnik, he said: “As the Defence Ministry has already pointed out, the Russian military bases in Hmeymim and Tartus are under firm protection.

“At the same time, we expect that in the event of US strikes, if any, the lives of our servicemen will not be in danger.

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! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018

21 President Trump has told Russia to 'get ready' after Moscow warned it would shoot down American missiles in Syria Credit: AFP or licensors

21 Vladimir Putin would 'immediately' strike back against American aggression in Syria, according to reports Credit: Reuters

“I think that the United States understands this and will not allow it, because otherwise, Russia's response will be immediate, as the chief of the Russian General Staff has said.”

A Russian Foreign ministry source says the risk of “direct military confrontation” between Russia and the US in Syria “exists”, reports Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Meanwhile, RAF bombers were last night on standby to strike Syrian tyrant Bashar Al-Assad.

Major activity was reported at Britain’s Tornado base in Cyprus shortly before civilian planes were said to have been ordered to clear the airspace over Syria by the US.

It came as Britain told the UN that responsibility for the "diabolical" chemical attack lay with "Syria and its backers in Russia and Iran," and attacked Russia's attempts to portray itself as the victim.

Theresa May and President Trump vowed to stop Syria using chemical weapons as the US President cleared the way for military strikes against Bashar Al-Assad.

The Prime Minister rang both the US President and France’s Emmanuel Macron in a frantic round of diplomacy over the suspected chemical attack in Douma.

The White House said Mrs May agreed with Mr Trump that the alleged attack showed Syrian President Assad’s “vicious disregard for human life”.

A statement added: “The President and Prime Minister agreed not to allow the use of chemical weapons to continue.”

In the early hours of Tuesday, a heavy flight of US-led coalition warplanes were reportedly seen flying over the Iraqi border.

But Russia's Defence Committee have hit back, saying that they will respond immediately if its military is impacted by a possible US airstrike.

21 RAF bombers at Britain's base in Cyprus are said to be on standby to strike Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after major activity was reported Credit: PA:Press Association

21 Flight radar data shows planes being diverted from Syrian airspace as a 48-hour clearance was reportedly ordered by the US military Credit: Flight radar

21 The USS Donald Cook is lurking off the Syrian coast Credit: Getty - Contributor

21 The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is poised to enter the fray Credit: Reuters

Donald Trump launches Tomahawk missiles at Al-Shayrat Air Base after Syria gas strike in 2017

Civilian planes were said to have been ordered to clear the airspace over Syria by the US military as flight radar showed aircraft diverting away.

European air traffic controllers issued a "rapid alert" for airlines in the Eastern Mediterranean over the possibility of air strikes into Syria within the next 72 hours.

The USS Donald Cook missile destroyer was sailing towards Syria as the White House weighed up its options. Turkish media reported “remarkable” activity at an RAF Tornado base in Cyprus.

21 A medical worker was pictured giving a toddler oxygen after the chemical attack Credit: AP:Associated Press

21 Children were among those having to be treated after the attack Credit: Getty - Contributor

21 The White House said Theresa May agrees with the President that Assad has a 'vicious disregard for human life' Credit: AFP

Mrs May held a meeting with Cabinet ministers and security chiefs yesterday and another was scheduled to take place.

One senior Tory said he had been disappointed by the PM’s response – saying “she should be all over this, and leading from the front”.

Last night the UK’s permanent representative to the UN said the use of chemical weapons was an “escalatory act”.

Speaking at a meeting of the Security Council, Karen Pierce also slammed Russia for trying to make a bitter row over the attack a dispute between East and West.

She said: “The responsibility for the cruelty in Syria belongs to Syria and its backers in Russia and Iran.

“The use of chemical weapons is an escalatory and a diabolical act.

“What Russia is trying to do, it strikes me, Mr President, is to turn the debate in this Council away from a discussion of the use of chemical weapons into a dispute between East and West, presenting itself as the victim.”

Donald Trump’s desire for rapid reprisals was complicated by the global chemicals watchdog announcing it was sending a fact-finding team to Douma to probe the alleged poison gas attack, where rebels claimed at least 40 people died on Saturday.

21 Donald Trump has cancelled a trip to Latin America in order to focus on the US response to Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons Credit: Getty - Contributor

On Monday the US President condemned the “heinous” chemical weapon attack and said he would decide within the next 24 to 48 hours whether to launch a military reprisal.

Military chiefs in the UK were instructed on Monday to draw up options for a joint strike. Eight GR4 Tornado jets based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus could be used.

The Tornados have Storm Shadow missiles which have a range of more than 150 miles – enabling pilots to keep out of the range of Syrian anti-air defences.

Speaking on a visit to Cambridge yesterday, Mrs May once more sidestepped questions over whether Britain would be involved in military action.

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She said: “This attack that took place in Douma is a barbaric attack.

“Obviously we are working urgently with our allies and partners to assess what has happened on the ground.

“If this is the responsibility of Assad’s regime in Syria then it’s yet another example of the brutality and brazen disregard for their people that they show.”

Theresa May reveals she is consulting Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump over chemical attack in Syria

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