Syria Crisis: Russia could reconsider providing Syria with air defense missile system

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Unacceptable and lawless - an act of aggression against a sovereign state Russia's reaction to the coordinated strikes on Syria by the U.S., France and Britain.

SERGEI LAVROV RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER "Everyone understands that this happened a day before the inspectors of OPCW, who arrived in Beirut, were supposed to travel to the site of the incident in order to confirm the presence or absence of evidence of the use of chemical weapons there."

JACK PARROCK MOSCOW "The Russian government continues to reject claims by the West that the Syrian government conducted chemical weapons attacks in Douma last weekend and in Khan Sheikhoun a year ago. Moscow says these events are staged to justify western intervention in Syria like these coordinated airstrikes."

The missiles didn't strike any locations where Russian military forces are based - instead hitting targets they believe are Syrian government chemical weapons labs.

Russia insists that international inspectors had checked the sites that were struck and found no proof of chemical weapons enhancement.

The Kremlin took no military action in 2017 when the U.S. conducted similar airstrikes on a Syrian airbase but Russian observers say that could easily change.

EVGENY BUZHINSKY RETIRED LIEUTENANT GENERAL - PIR CENTER "I don't think it was meant to inflict serious damage. It was just a political demonstration of their determination and resolve, especially of President Trump. But if they continue and I think they will continue and again, I repeat, if Russian blood is shed, there will be retaliation."

The Syrian government now has control of eastern Ghouta and the town of Douma where they are flying the Russian flag next to Syria.

President Bashar al-Assad appears to have the upper hand against rebel factions in this seven year war - largely due to Russian support - and all indications point to that continuing. Jack Parrock, CGTN, Moscow.