U.S. weighs military strike on Syria

The U.S. is building a multi-nation strike force against Syria to respond to an alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held town near Damascus. Russia has urged America to avoid taking military action

RUSSIAN PRESENCE IN SYRIA: About 4,000-5,000 military personnel
Pro-government control (Russia, Iran, Syria)
Rebel forces
Kurds
Turkey and allies
So-called Islamic State
Airbase  Known Russian position Russian warships (11 vessels)

Range of Russian air defence missiles
S-400 400km
S-400 250km
S-300 150km

Shayrat airbase
U.S. launched missile strike in retaliation for chemical attack in April 2017

Homs
Damascus
Palmyra
T4
Hama
ISRAEL
LEBANON
JORDAN
TURKEY
SYRIA
IRAQ
River Euphrates
Raqqa
Deir
al-Zour
Latakia
Khmeimim
Tartus
Aleppo
100km
60 miles

U.S.-WESTERN FIREPOWER
U.S.: Two destroyers and possible submarine in eastern Mediterranean. USS Harry S Truman carrier strike force en route from U.S.east coast. Aircraft – including F-22 stealth jets – in Qatar, Jordan and Turkey. About 2,000 troops on ground in Syria
France: Missile-armed frigate in Mediterranean, Rafale jets in UAE and Jordan
UK: Typhoon and Tornadostrike aircraft at Akrotiri in Cyprus


IRAN
RUSSIA
IRAQ
CYPRUS
TURKEY
Incirlik
Al Udeid
QATAR
SYRIA
SAUDI
ARABIA
JORDAN
EGYPT
Al Dhafra
UAE



Sources: AFP, Business Insider, ISW, The National Interest