Russia Deploys Massive Naval Force to Syria
Dan Arkin
| 30/08/2018
Russian warship (Archive photo: AP)
The Russian Navy is deploying a flotilla of at least ten ships to the Syrian coast, the Izvestia newspaper reported Tuesday, citing unidentified sources from the Russian Defense Ministry.
The Russian naval grouping is led by the Northern Fleet’s guided missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov, a large anti-submarine warfare ship called the Severomorsk, three of Russia’s newest frigates, one large patrol ship, three small missile boats and two Kilo-class submarines. Many of these ships are armed with Russia’s Kalibr cruise missiles, according to Izvestia’s report.
Several more ships are reportedly en route to join the flotilla, making it Russia’s largest naval deployment to Syria since Moscow began its intervention in the conflict there nearly two years ago – and possibly the largest since the end of the Cold War.
The Izvestia report comes one day after Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov told reporters that Moscow was concerned over apparent preparations for an American cruise missile strike on Syrian government forces ahead of a final offensive on Idlib – the last remaining rebel stronghold in the Syrian civil war.
According to Defense News, the fact that the naval group is equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles could indicate that Russia may support the Syrian government’s expected push into Idlib.
Russian warship (Archive photo: AP)
The Russian Navy is deploying a flotilla of at least ten ships to the Syrian coast, the Izvestia newspaper reported Tuesday, citing unidentified sources from the Russian Defense Ministry.
The Russian naval grouping is led by the Northern Fleet’s guided missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov, a large anti-submarine warfare ship called the Severomorsk, three of Russia’s newest frigates, one large patrol ship, three small missile boats and two Kilo-class submarines. Many of these ships are armed with Russia’s Kalibr cruise missiles, according to Izvestia’s report.
Several more ships are reportedly en route to join the flotilla, making it Russia’s largest naval deployment to Syria since Moscow began its intervention in the conflict there nearly two years ago – and possibly the largest since the end of the Cold War.
The Izvestia report comes one day after Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov told reporters that Moscow was concerned over apparent preparations for an American cruise missile strike on Syrian government forces ahead of a final offensive on Idlib – the last remaining rebel stronghold in the Syrian civil war.
According to Defense News, the fact that the naval group is equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles could indicate that Russia may support the Syrian government’s expected push into Idlib.
