The United States has attacked a Syrian air base with 50-60 cruise missiles in response to a chemical weapons attack it blames on President Bashar Assad.
Waikato University international law expert Alexander Gillespie said the significance of the missile attacks could not be understated.
"It's huge. It's absolutely monstrous. To actually get directly involved, targeting [Syrian President] Assad - as opposed to targeting Isis - is a game-changer."
Gillespie said all eyes would now be onSyria and Russia's response.
"There are American troops in Raqqa right now, fighting the Islamic State. The question is whether Assad will attack the American troops
"And the second question is how will the Russians respond? Because the Russians have the capability to strike back.
Waikato University international law expert Alexander Gillespie says the next question is how the Russians will respond. "Because the Russians have the capability to strike back." Photo / File
