TENSIONS between the US and Russia have been at boiling point in recent weeks as a result of the Syria crisis.

With both sides refusing to back down – and a US-led coalition now launching air strikes on the Assad regime – here's what’s happened since a devastating chemical attack in Syria sparked outrage.

What is the latest situation between the US and Russia?

The fighting talk is escalating between the old rivals, as both continue to threaten retaliation after another chemical attack in Syria.

At least 60 civilians were killed after "poisonous chlorine gas" unfolded in the besieged town of Douma on April 7.

On April 10, Turkey’s national defence minister Nurettin Canikli warned of an impending “World War 3” as tensions intensify.

And citizens in Russia have even been given advice on how to survive a nuclear missile attack.

Overnight, the RAF joined a US-led coalition in launching air strikes on the Assad regime.

Russia have warned that there "will be consequences to the "one-time shot" involving US, UK and French forces.

Here are the key events involving the US and Russia in Syria:

• Aug 2013 – Obama calls for military strike against Assad over his brutal regime
• Sep 2013 – Syria wards off US strike by saying it would relinquish chemical weapons
• Jun 2014  – ISIS declares caliphate in areas it controls in Iraq and Syria
• Sep 2014   – The US launches air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria
• Jul 2015   – Assad turns to Russia for military help to take on its rivals
• Sep 2015 – Putin sends warplanes, tanks and troops to a base near Latakia
• Sep 2015 –  Russia begins launching airstrikes in support of Assad's forces
• Nov 2015 – Putin uses strategic bombers and cruise missiles to target ISIS
• Nov 2015 – A Russian Sukhoi SU-24 fighter is shot down by Turkish air force
• Nov 2015 –  Pilot from the fighter jet was shot and killed by Syrian rebels
• Nov 2015 –  It's reported 2,000 US troops are on ground training anti-ISIS fighters
• Dec 2015  – The US ships 994 tonnes of weapons and ammunition to rebel groups
• Jan 2016 – Russian air strikes in the town of Marrat al-Numan kill about 60
• Mar 2016 – Putin announces the 'mission' in Syria had been accomplished
• Mar 2016  – US-led airstrike targets and kills ISIS commander Omar al-Shishami
• Apr 2016 – Obama sends in an additional 250 Special Operations Forces soldiers
• Jan 2017 –   Russian and Turkish warplanes conduct joint airstrikes against ISIS
• Apr 2017 –  US launches missiles at Syrian air base after a chemical attack
• Jun 2017 –  US air force targets 60 ISIS troops, a tank and armed trucks
• Jul 2017 –  Russian military announces it is deploying military police to Syria
• Dec 2017 – Putin visits Syria and announces partial withdrawal of troops
• Feb 2018 – Russia air force conducts around 60 air strikes every day
• Apr, 8 2018 – Trump warns "animal Assad" will pay the price for chemical attack
• Apr, 10 2018 – Trump vows "forceful" response to alleged chemical attack
• Apr 11, 2017 – Theresa May calls an emergency ‘war’ Cabinet to talk Syria
• Apr 11, 2017 – Turkey’s defence minister Nurettin Canikli warns of World War 3
• Apr 11, 2018 –  US war planes seen 'flying over Syria' as tensions mount
• Apr 11, 2018 – Moscow says it will shoot down any US missiles fired at Syria
• Apr, 12, 2018 – Russian citizens told how to survive a World War 3
• Apr, 12 2018 – Russian military ships leave port in Syria ahead of feared attack
• Apr, 12 2018 – Trump and Theresa May plan missile action against Assad
• Apr, 12 2018 – Trump back-pedals on his earlier threat to bomb Syria
• Apr, 13  2018 – Largest US strike force since Iraq war has sets off towards Syria
• Apr, 13 2018 – Scared Assad is reportedly hiding in windowless bunker
• Apr, 14 2018 –  Donald Trump announces a coalition of US, UK and French forces have launched a series of coordinated air strikes
• Apr, 14 2018 – Russia warns that there "will be consequences" following the raids

Where have air strikes targeted?

In the early hours of April 14, the RAF joined US and French forces in unleashing a blitz on Assad’s chemical weapons capabilities.

The three nations launched more than 100 airstrikes in a "one-time shot", that was more than double the firepower of the US airstrike on a Syrian base last year.

Four Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s took off from RAF Akotiri and launched Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility – a former missile base – fifteen miles west of Homs, where it is believed chemical weapons were stored.

Alongside them were US cruise missile-armed B-1B Bombers along with F15 and F16s.

French Rafale fighter jets were also involved and 12 missiles shot.

The US said at least one guided missile warship contributed to the strikes using Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Syrian State Television reported that the regime's air defence has downed 13 missiles and Russia claims at least 70 were intercepted.

Why did the UK bomb Syria?

A barrage of cruise missiles rained down on Syrian regime's poison gas facilities into the overnight and into the early hours on April 14.

The UK, US and French joint airstrikes come as retaliation to the chemical warfare atrocity against civilians on April 7.

Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons factories have been targeted by these air strikes.

Chemical weapons research and storage plants were flattened in Homs and Damascus.

General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing: "Important infrastructure was destroyed which will result in a setback for the Syrian regime.

“They will lose years of research and development, storage and equipment."

B-1B Bombers along with F15 and F16s hit a research facility in Damascus and airfields while a guided missile destroyer launched a barrage Tomahawk missiles on this site.

Meanwhile four Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s from RAF Akotiri and launched Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility – a former missile base – fifteen miles west of Homs, where it is believed chemical weapons were stored.

A French warship and Rafale fighter jets launched 12 cruise missiles on other military sites.

Russia's defence ministry says 71 of a total of 103 cruise missiles were intercepted by Syrian air defences.

What has Donald Trump said about the Syria crisis?

Following the chemical attack, Donald Trump retaliated by warning Russia to "get ready" for American "smart" missiles heading to Syria.

He also blasted Putin for partnering with "Gas Killing Animal" Bashar Assad.

He issued the extraordinary threat on Twitter on April 11, saying: “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!"

When the air strikes were launched, Trump addressed the American public on TV.

He said: "A short time ago, I ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

"The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons.

"This evil and despicable act left mothers and fathers and children thrashing in pain and gasping for air."

MORE ON SYRIA

What has the Foreign Secretary said?

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the Syrian air strikes were about saying "enough is enough" over the use of chemical weapons.

He said the UK, US and France retaliatory action would not "turn the tide" of the Syrian conflict, and it was not about changing the regime.

Instead, he said it was hoped the strike action would act as a deterrent to more "barbaric" chemical attacks.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Johnson stressed the "limits" of the intervention were to stop an apparent erosion of the "taboo" of chemical weapons.

"The rest of the Syrian war must proceed as it will," he said.

The Foreign Secretary added that the "primary purpose of the action was to say no to the use of barbaric chemical weapons".

Mr Johnson said he did not know how Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would respond, adding that if there was a repeat chemical attack, "clearly, with allies, we would study what the options were".

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