Pictures showed the three vessels crammed with weapons sail through the Bosphorus strait – that links the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Putin’s ships are allegedly heading for the Tartus naval base on the northern coast of Syria. It comes after the US, UK and France fired more than 100 missiles at Syria in response to a chemical attack on civilians in Douma. Russia condemned the attack on its ally and promised there would be “consequences” for the strike by the West. War fears are stretched amid warnings Western action in Syria could lead to a direct clash with Russian president Putin.

Pictures reveal an Alligator-class landing ship Orsk heading into the Med yesterday – packed the brim with vehicles. Trucks, lorries and armoured tanks were all seen standing on the deck as the vessel headed for Syria. The tanks are Russian BTR-80s – which are eight wheeler amphibious armoured personnel carriers developed by the Soviet Union. What appeared to be fuel tankers were also visible on the deck of the ship as it sailed through the Bosphorus.

And then on Friday – before the strike by the West – the yellow cargo ship Alexander Tkachenko was snapped sailing through Turkey. Sitting on its deck were military trucks, along with patrol boats. The vessel is also believed to be headed for Tartus on charter by Putin’s government. Landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov was also seen passing through the Bosphorus loaded with vehicles. Russia has a large military force in Syria – with estimations of around 10,000 troops still on the ground along with warships, warplanes and missiles.

Trump hailed his strikes as “mission accomplished” as the 107 missiles rained down on Syrian bases linked to the chemical attack. Syria and Russia both deny chemical weapons were used by the regime, instead blaming rebel groups and Britain. Both regimes allege the gassing of civilians was faked in bid to bring the US into the war to ensure the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Three targets were attacked but he US – including the “heart” of Assad’s alleged chemical weapons programme at Bazrah Research Centre. And today it was revealed Trump wanted to attack Russia and Iran in his Syria strike, before being talked down by his top generals.

Around 500 people were gassed in the chemical attack on Douma earlier this month – killing dozens, including children. Barrel bombs were allegedly dropped by regime helicopters trying to clear out the rebel-held suburban. And the US Ambassador Nikki Haley accused Russia of having “blood on its hands” over the attack. Daily Star Online previously revealed NATO would lose war to Russia in 60 hours if conflict spread to Europe.</s>Army tanks were seen on the Project 117 Alligator-class landing ship spotted at Bosphorus, Turkey, en-route to Syria (Picture: @YorukIsik)

Warships loaded with tanks and military equipment have been spotted heading to a Russian naval base in Syria after the UK, US and France carried out airstrikes there on Saturday.

A Russian Project 117 Alligator-class landing ship was spotted off the coast of Turkey on Sunday, reportedly making its way to the military base at Tartus on the north Syrian coast

Vegan activist 'killed more than 90 newborn rabbits' during rescue mission

Russian president Vladimir Putin is expected to respond to the bombings said to have wiped out sites connected with Syrian president Assad’s chemical weapons programme.

British Tornado GR4s departed from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and fired Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility near Homs, where the regime is said to have kept chemical weapon precursors.

Other sites near Damascus were also targeted in the assault which US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis called a ‘one-time shot’

The Russian Navy’s landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov sails in the Bosphorus (Picture: REUTERS/Yoruk Isik)

Russian-flagged cargo ship Alexander Tkachenko, chartered by the Russian government, sails in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey (Picture: REUTERS/Yoruk Isik)

Announcing the operation, Prime Minister Theresa May said there was ‘no practicable alternative to the use of force’.

Advertisement

Advertisement

She said ‘every possible diplomatic channel’ had been explored before authorising the strikes, adding that it was not a decision she had taken lightly.

Woman, 73, 'beat 83-year-old neighbor to death with a brick'

The strikes came in response to a chemical attack in Douma on April 7, which killed at least 75 including many children, believed to have been carried out by the Assad regime.

But reports yesterday suggested Putin could order ‘payback’ for the strikes in the form of a cyber attack on UK computer systems.

Naval observer Yoruk Isik posted photographs of the Russian warships online yesterday, suggesting Russia was stepping up its own military efforts in Syria.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Reinforcement for Russia’s campaign continues amid rising international crisis in #Syria: #ВМФ Project1171 #ЧФ BSF Tapir class LST Orsk transits Med-bound Bosphorus en route to #Tartus carrying BTR80 APCs, Ural4320tanker,ambulance,KamAZ trucks & AirborneTroops VDV’s IVECO 4WDLynx pic.twitter.com/rmfsRRVxnJ — Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) April 15, 2018

Orsk, Russia’s transport ship, was seen leaving the Bosphorus strait loaded up with what appeared to be tanks, lorries, ambulances and military hardware including an IED radar.

Advertisement

Advertisement

A second ship, the yellow tanker RoRo Alexandr Tkachenko, was also pictured carrying trucks and materials for bridge construction.

Following the airstrikes, Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov warned that there would be ‘consequences’.

In a statement, he said: ‘A pre-designed scenario is being implemented.

‘Again, we are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences.

‘All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris.

Project 117 Alligator-class landing ship spotted at Bosphorus, Turkey, en-route to Syria on Sunday (Picture: @YorukIsik)

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

‘Insulting the President of Russia is unacceptable and inadmissible.

‘The US – the possessor of the biggest arsenal of chemical weapons – has no moral right to blame her countries.’

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson yesterday defended the UK’s decision to join the US and France in striking Syria, saying it showed the country was ‘standing up for principle and for civilised values’.

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn questioned the legality of the strikes after a vote on action was not put to MPs.

Advertisement

He demanded a new ‘war powers’ law to give parliament more scrutiny over decisions made by the PM on any future airstrikes.

‘I think what we need in this country is something more robust like a War Powers Act so that governments do get held to account by parliament for what they do in our name,’ Corbyn told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.

MORE: This is what missile attack did to Syria’s chemical weapons program

MORE: Theresa May to face angry MPs after missile attack against Syria</s>Two Russian warships laden with military vehicles have been spotted en route to Syria after Friday's US-led airstrikes obliterated three suspected chemical weapons sites.An Alligator-landing ship was pictured cruising down The Bosphorus on Sunday as the world awaits Vladimir Putin's response to this week's co-ordinated military action against Syria.The vessel was spotted on its way to the Russian naval base at Tartus on the north Syrian coast.On its fourth deployment of Russian military equipment to the war-torn country the ship was seen laden withA yellow RoRo Alexandr Tkachenko was also pictured heading for Tartus carrying. The images were posted on social media by Bosphorus-based naval observer Yörük Işık.They come in wake of Friday's US-led campaign against Bashar al-Assad's regime and a chemical weapons attack that brutally murdered 75 civillians.The blue Project 117 LST Orsk 148 ship was carrying Soviet BTR-80 tanks, Ramaz trucks and a Pelena-1 bomb radar, used to detect IEDs.A second yellow cargo vessel was equipped with a BMK-T boat used for building temporary bridges and an array of other military hardware.</s>The large landing craft (LLC) Orsk has sailed into the Mediterranean, Turkish websites reported, posting photographs of the vessel's passage through the Bosphorus.

Turkish naval observer Yoruk Isik posted photographs of the Russian warship online Sunday, suggesting Russia was stepping up its own military efforts in Syria.

According to Yoruk Isik, the Orsk, which is part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, is heading to Syria’s Mediterranean port of Tartus, which is home to a Russian naval supply base.

​Seen on deck are several BTR-80 armored vehicles, a Tigr fighting vehicle, KamAz trucks and a Ural fuel truck.

This is already the Orsk’s fourth mission to Syria this year with the landing ships Minsk and Nikolai Filchenkov making their way into the Mediterranean Sea via the Black Sea straits on April 5 and 13 respectively.

Since January, the Azov and Alexander Otrakovsky landing craft and the Kyzyl-60 transport ship have hauled cargoes to Syria.

According to foreign media reports, Russia landing ships, auxiliary vessels and chartered ships have been taking part in Operation Syrian Express, carrying cargoes for Russia’s air base at Hmeymim near Latakia, the Russian naval supply base at Tartus, and for Syrian government forces.

READ MORE: Lawmaker: Russia Should Sell S-300 Air Defense Systems to Iran, N. Korea, Syria</s>Russia's U.N. ambassador says the United States appears to have adopted a policy to "unleash a military scenario against Syria," saying Moscow continues to observe "dangerous" military preparations.</s>World War 3: Russian warships were spotted on their way to Syria

A Project 117 Alligator-class landing ship was spotted at Bosphorus, Turkey on Sunday.

The vessel was on its way to the Russian naval base at Tartus on the north Syrian coast.

Before the strike on Saturday there were reports of a military build-up around Syria by US, French and UK forces.

The movement of the Russian vessels come after a statement by Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov: “A pre-designed scenario is being implemented.

“Again, we are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences.</s>French defense minister says Russia was warned ahead of joint US, UK, French military attacks on Syria

PARIS (AP) — French defense minister says Russia was warned ahead of joint US, UK, French military attacks on Syria.
Russia sends landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov, chartered civilian vessel MV Alexander Tkachenko, and transport ship Orsk to Syria laden with military equipment.