The UN Security Council has voted down a Russian proposal to condemn the airstrikes on Syria following a tense meeting that saw Nikki Haley warn the Trump administration was 'locked and loaded' for further action if it became necessary.

Only three countries — Russia, China and Bolivia — voted in favor of the resolution at the end of an emergency meeting of the 15-member council called by Russia on Saturday.

The vote reflected the deep divisions in the U.N.'s most powerful body, which has been paralyzed in dealing with the seven-year Syrian conflict and chemical weapons use in the country.

The US ambassador to the UN, speaking at an emergency meeting called by Russia on Saturday, said President Trump had drawn a 'red line' on the use of chemical weapons which 'he would always keep'

America joined Britain and France in striking three targets as revenge against Assad's chemical attack on the rebel enclave of Douma on April 7, with bombers and fast jets firing more than 100 missiles.

Haley said the US was prepared for further military action if Syria's President Assad crosses the chemical weapons 'red line' in the future.

'The time for talk ended last night,' Haley said. 'We are prepared to sustain this pressure, if the Syrian regime is foolish enough to test our will.

'The United States is locked and loaded,' she said. 'When our President draws a red line, our President enforces a red line.'

She also accused the Russians of covering up for Assad, who she said had used chemical weapons 50 times in the past seven years of warfare.

'Russia can complain all it wants about fake news, but no one is buying its lies and its cover-ups,' she said of Syria's strongest ally,' Haley said.

'Russia was supposed to guarantee Assad would not use chemical weapons, and Russia did the opposite.

'We cannot stand by and let Russia trash every international norm that we stand for, and allow the use of chemical weapons to go unanswered.'

Haley's Russian counterpart, Vassily Nebenzia, (right) hit back by accusing the US-led coalition of provoking conflict

Eight countries voted against Russia's motion and three abstained. A resolution needs at least 9 'yes' votes to be approved.

Its UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, hit back by accusing the US of 'hooliganism' and breaking international law.

'Why are you seeking to plunge the Middle East into such difficulties, provoking one conflict after another, pitting one state against another?' he said.

'Is the latest wave of chaos being unleashed only for the sake of that?'

The French and British ambassadors to the UN suggested conditions that could prepare for a negotiated end to the Syrian Civil War, which started in 2011.

It came as Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said Russian efforts to veto UN action against Syria left US, British and French allies no option but to launch airstrikes against key installations.

The strikes were double the size of those in 2017, and were described as 'perfectly executed' by President Trump, who is pictured on Friday

After a debriefing of Nato ambassadors by the three allies on Saturday, Mr Stoltenberg said that 'before the attack took place last night, Nato allies exhausted all other possible ways to address this issue to the UNSC by diplomatic and political means'.

He added: 'But since this was blocked by Russia, there was no other alternative.'

Mr Stoltenberg said: 'I am not saying that the attacks last night solved all problems but compared to the alternative to do nothing this was the right thing to do.'

He said all 29 Nato members backed the airstrikes as a consequence of the country conducting a suspected chemical attack against its civilians last weekend.

The strikes were about making sure that chemical weapons cannot be used with impunity, he added.

The raids hit two chemical weapons facilities and a military command post in Syria on Friday night in retaliation for President Assad's chemical attack that left up 75 civilians dead last week.

The strikes were double the size of those in 2017, and were described as 'perfectly executed' by President Trump.

Damascus skies erupt with surface to air missile fire as the US unleashes 76 missiles on a chemical weapons facility, which was destroyed