British troops are to be deployed to the Baltics as part of a long-term Nato mission to deter Russian aggression.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said a ‘small number’ of soldiers would be stationed there to ‘watch over our allies on the eastern borders’.

RAF Typhoon fighters are already in the region as part of the Baltic Air Policing detachment and have been called into action in recent months.

In June, Typhoons were scrambled from Amari Air base in Estonia to intercept and shadow two Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea.

Fallon said: ‘This is part of our more persistent presence on the eastern side of Nato to respond to any further provocation and aggression.’

Russia is making a very serious situation in Syria much more dangerous, the Defence Secretary has said.

Michael Fallon said if Russia wanted to help the best thing they could do is use their influence to stop President Assad from bombing his own civilians.

He added they must also stop using unguided missiles in Syria.

Earlier, The Russian Ministry of Defence has posted a video showing its military forces firing rockets off the deck of a warship in the Caspian Sea.

According to confirmation by the country’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu four of Russia’s military warships targeted Islamic State targets in Syria with 26 missile strikes as part of its pre-emptive operation against terrorism in the Middle East.