There is another theory:
If Russia wasn't previously informed - and involved - in this quick attack on Syria (and there are informations on a previous phone call between Moscow and Washington), then their defense system installed in the specific area in Syria would have clearly impeded it.
What does that mean: that there exists a strategic consense between Washington and Moscow at this point of time. Why Putin said the day after that he clearly censured the attack? Because Syria is still his partner.
Furthermore, the fact that the attack was done while the Chinese President Xi Jingping had coffee with Trump in Florida, was surely not an accident.
North Korea and its nuclear weapon program is a constant thread for America. China is the only Eastern power which could be able to control this literally ticking bomb. That means that the attack - besides its message towards al-Ásad - included another one towards China: "It's time."
The air craft carriers moving towards the East are just incrementing this pressure.
All these measurements are strategic steps of an overall and global positioning of the US.
There isn't any evidence that these steps could lead to any global conflict. As long as there is no escalation between the US and Russia, I wouldn't ever use the term "World War". Many many things must go wrong until the super powers decide to enter in a military fight. Believe only in Europe who have zero interests in starting any military measurements. And a World War would include them.
From my point of view it's not too early to talk about war, there is better said absolutely no reason to suppose one.
Just think about Russia's defense system in Syria and why they didn't bomb the US bombers flying over it or at least why they didn't eliminate the rockets... There were very few targets, it would have been very easy to them :)
Last but not least, the fact that Trump uses military measurements to enforce his strategic positioning shouldn't surprise too many. He's a power seeker, and global power requires global rules. However, the warning shot over Syria (which was clearly intended to not hurt any people but just hurt al-Ásad's military power) was a strategically driven one, tolerated by Moscow and accepted by Europe (Merkel called it a "reasonable step").
World War is a big term, we should use it very carefully.
Steem on.