US vs Russia military showdown is INEVITABLE top MI6 chief warns

Former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers said there is a “real risk of a clash” as tensions boil between both superpowers amid Russia’s bombing crusade in Syria.

His warning comes as Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced Britain is to station a “small number” of troops in the Baltic states in a further move to deter Russian aggression.

Mr Sawer said: “It is going to be quite hard to continue this campaign unless there is a degree of military co-ordination between the Russians and the West.

“You can’t really have two air forces fighting different campaigns aimed at different objectives over the same territory without the real risk of a clash.”

He said there was a “degree of co-existence” between the Assad regime and the terror group as part of the Syrian dictator’s strategy to “squeeze out” the moderate opposition.