The Russian military sent long-range nuclear-capable bombers and warplanes carrying hypersonic missiles to its air based in Syria for huge exercises in the Mediterranean in a context of escalating tensions with west over Ukraine.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Syria to oversee the exercises that mark the most grand Russian naval deployment in the Mediterranean Sea since the Cold War. Shoigu met with Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday to inform him of the exercises and discuss plans for any further military-cooperation technique.
The Department of Defense said the exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean which involves 15 warships and around 30 aircraft is part of of a series of extensive naval exercises which have begun last months in the middle of a stalemate over Ukraine. He said the maneuvers were meant to former for action to “protect national interests” and “to defend off military threats against The Russian Federation.”
Long-range nuclear-capable Tu-22M3 bombers and military aircraft combat MiG-31 carrying the latest Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missiles landed on Russian air based of Hemeimeem in Coastal province of Syria of Latakia in the frame of exercises. the military says the Kinzhal has a range of up at 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and flies at 10 times the speed of sound what makes it hard intercept.
The deployment of Kinzhal missiles in Syria appear to be intended to showcase Russian military’s ability to threaten US aircraft carrier strikes group in the Mediterranean.
The Ministry of Defense said that the head of the Russian Navy had reported to Shoigu that the planned exercises practice in targeting enemy warships.
The Hemeimeem air the base served as a base for Russia main outpost in Syria, where she led a military campaign since September 2015, allowing Assad government regain control over more of the country after a devastating civil war.
Russia also expanded and modified a naval base in the syrian port of Tartous, the only such facility in Russia outside the former Soviet Union.
Massive Russian Naval Exercises and Deployment of airplanes of combat additional flows to Syria demonstrated an increase from Russia military anchoring in the region amid the worst Russian-Western security crisis since the Cold War.
US officials say Russia has amassed over 130,000 troops near Ukraine and warned that a invasion can happen at any time.
Moscow denied everything plans to invade son neighbour, but demanded that the West provide guarantees that NATO would not allow Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations to join will not station weapons there and roll back alliance deployments in Eastern Europe. The United States and its allies flatly rejected these demands, but offered to discuss with Moscow’s means to strengthen security in Europe.
