Vladimir Putin did not try and intercept Donald Trump's massive missile strike on Bashar al-Assad's Al Shayrat military airbase outside Homs - despite being covered by Russia's state-of-the art S-400 Growler air defence system.

The Russians deployed the Growler - which can intercept targets at a range of 250 miles and at heights of up to 90,000 feet - to the Latakia Airbase on the Syrian coast.

Yet, despite being well within the missile system's range, no attempt was made to intercept the 59 Tomahawk Cruise missiles fired from the Arleigh Burke- destroyers USS Porter and USS Ross from the Mediterranean.

Vladimir Putin has deployed the S-400 Growler missile system to the Latakia Airbase in northern Syria which provides coverage over a 250-mile range including the target airbase

Russian defence officials claim the S-400, pictured, can track up to 300 targets, including stealth aircraft and missiles and intercept them from low levels up to 90,000 feet

Putin ordered the deployment of advanced air defence systems to Latakia after a Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian Sukhio-24 bomber in November 2015 after it encroached Turkish airspace

The Tomahawks, which have a range of 690 miles can skim the surface of the earth and take a complicated route to a target to avoid possible interception.

However, President Trump gave the Russians advanced notice of the attack before the 1,450kg missiles struck the air strip.

Russia deployed the advanced air defence systems after a Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian Sukhoi-24 bomber in November 2015 after it encroached Turkish airspace.

The Growler is able to track up to 300 targets

Following last night's devastating attack, Russian politicians claimed their service personnel were being kept save by the S-400 and the older S-300 air defence systems.

Viktor Ozerov of the Russian upper house defence and security committee told Sputnik: 'Regardless of today's US attack on the Syrian air force air base, our air base [in Latakia] and logistics centre in Tartus are secured from the sea and from the air by S-300 and S-400 systems.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed it may improve protection of Syrian airbases following the attacks.

According to The Aviationist, the Tomahawks flew straight through the 'Missile Engagement Zone' covered by Putin's 11,000mph Growler missiles.

Syrian sources suggested only some 30 of the Tomahawks failed to hit their targets, but the US insists all the weapons were successful.

Russian military sources claim their advanced air defence systems can protect against incoming missiles and aircraft - including stealth jets - however, they have not been tested against US equipment.

Andrei Kortunov, director of the Russian International Affairs Council told the Interfax News Agency: 'The risks of a direct military confrontation of Russia and the U.S. have risen significantly. Whether or not it could lead to WW III depends on how responsible the leaders are.'

Trump ordered the USS Porter and USS Ross to fire 59 missiles at the Syrian airbase

The Tomahawk missiles were fired at the airbase from the USS Ross and USS Porter

Sergei Rogov, director of the US and Canada institute, a Moscow-based think-tank, said Trump authorised the strike to prove his independence and 'show Trump critics that he doesn't have a pro-Russia stance and is ready to take a tough course regarding Moscow'.

However, as a result of the strike, Putin has ordered Russia no longer co-operates with the US over the so-called 'deconfliction line', which prevents coalition and Russian aircraft coming into conflict.