Strike one to Donald Trump, but it’s still a very risky game

While the US missile assault on Syria will make Putin and Assad pause for thought, one of the consequences of the attack may be a boost for Islamic State, writes Leonid Bershidsky.

With one missile strike on a Syrian airfield, US president Donald Trump called two bluffs at once, but likely set back his proclaimed goal of defeating Islamic State.

The pre-dawn strike on Shayrat Airfield should deal a crushing blow to the narrative that the Kremlin somehow controls Trump or has compromising material about him.