*WASHINGTON:* President Donald Trump and his national security aides onThursday discussed US options on Syria, where he has threatened missilestrikes in response to a suspected poison gas attack, as a Russian envoyvoiced fears of wider conflict between Washington and Moscow.

Worries about a confrontation between Russia, Syria’s big ally, and theWest have been running high since Trump said on Wednesday that missiles“will be coming” in response to the attack in the Syrian town of Douma onApril 7, and lambasted Moscow for standing by Syrian President Basharal-Assad.

Trump tempered those remarks on Thursday and even as he consulted alliessuch and Britain and France, who could join in any US-led strikes on Syria,there were signs of efforts to prevent the crisis from spiraling out ofcontrol.

“Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon ornot so soon at all!” Trump wrote on Twitter, raising the prospect that anattack might not be as imminent as he seemed to suggest the day before.

Trump met his national security team on the situation in Syria later in theday and “no final decision has been made,” the White House said in astatement.

“We are continuing to assess intelligence and are engaged in conversationswith our partners and allies,” it said.

That did not necessarily signal, however, that Trump was cooling to theidea of military action, especially given the high stakes in Syria. USofficials noted that Washington was still assessing intelligence andcoordinating allies. Trump spoke to British Prime Minister Theresa May onThursday and the two leaders talked about the “need for a joint response toSyria’s use of chemical weapons,” the White House said.

May’s office said they agreed on the need to deter Assad’s government fromfurther such attacks.

Trump was also due to speak with French President Emmanuel Macron, who saidFrance had proof the Syrian government carried out the attack nearDamascus, which aid groups have said killed dozens of people, and willdecide whether to strike back when all the necessary information has beengathered.

“We have proof that last week … chemical weapons were used, at least withchlorine, and that they were used by the regime of Bashar al-Assad,” Macronsaid, without offering details of any evidence.

Two US officials familiar with an investigation of samples from Douma andthe symptoms of victims said initial indications that a mix of weaponisedChlorine gas and Sarin were used in the attack appeared to be correct. ButUS intelligence agencies have not completed their assessment or reached afinal conclusion, the officials said.

Russia, Syria and its other main backer, Iran, have said reports of theDouma attack were fabricated by rebels and rescue workers and have accusedthe United States of seeking to use it as a pretext to attack the Syriangovernment. Russia said it deployed military police in Douma on Thursdayafter the town was taken over by government forces. Agencies