Contents tagged with Syria

  • Russia warns US-led coalition not to fly close to its bases in Syria

    The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation made a statement about how the Russian military will use air defense in Syria after relations with the United States have worsened.

    “I remind the US strategists that air cover for the Russian military bases in Tartus and Hmeymim includes S-400 and S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, the range of which may come as a surprise to any unidentified flying objects,” Major General Konashenkov stated. According to him, “today the Syrian army has S-200, …

  • Russian Embassy in Damascus attacked with mortars

    The Russian Embassy in Damascus has been shelled by mortars. This was reported on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 4th of October.

    According to the ministry, one of the mines exploded near a residential complex on the territory of the embassy. Two more mines exploded near the embassy. No one was hurt in the explosions. The ministry did however state that the embassy’s building sustained some damage.

    The shelling was reportedly conducted from the suburb of Jobar in …

  • Pentagon: Russian S-300 air defense systems in Syria pose a danger to US aircraft

    The deployment of Russian S-300 air defense systems in Syria can be a danger to U.S. military aircraft, depending on the use of these weapons, Defense Ministry spokesman, Peter Cook, said at a briefing in Washington.

    According to the Pentagon’s representative, the U.S. military does not know why Moscow sent an anti-aircraft missile system to the Arab Republic, The Washington Post writes. Russia initially cited the fight against extremism as its purpose, however neither the Islamic State nor …

  • Russia deploys S-300VM anti-missile system to Syria

    For the first time, Russia has deployed S-300VM advanced anti-ballistic missile systems to Syria, Fox News reported, citing three US officials.

    The officials said the anti-ballistic missile systems, which have a range of 150 miles, arrived over the weekend at the Russian naval base in the Syrian city of Tartus.

    US intelligence had observed the shipment of S-300VMs inside Russia in recent weeks.

    Though the purpose of sending the systems to Syria remains unclear, though as one US official …

  • Media: Aleppo's largest hospital was bombed by Russian and Assad's planes

    At least two barrel bombs hit the biggest hospital in Aleppo, Syria, as reported by Al Arabiya news agency, citing representatives of the medical organization. Medics say that the target of the bombardment was a hospital, located in the opposition-controlled part of Aleppo. Presumably, cluster bombs also were used during the attack.

    In addition, Anadolu news agency reports that the Air Forces of the Russian Federation and of the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad both dropped bombs of a "great …

  • Russian MFA spokeswoman: US actions against Syrian government would lead to 'tectonic shifts'

    Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that if the US were to directly engage Syrian government forces, it would lead to “tectonic shifts” in the Middle East, RIA Novosti reported.

    "My goal is to explain why it is so important to stay in line with the agreements [between the US, Russia, and Damascus]. If the US carries out direct aggression against Damascus and the Syrian army, it will lead to terrible, tectonic shifts, not only in this country [Syria], but also in the …

  • Russia sends more bombers to Syria

    Russia has sent a group of Su-24 and Su-34 bombers to its Hmeymim base in Syria and is preparing to send a group of Su-25 ground attack aircraft in an effort to intensify its support for the Syrian government after the ceasefire plan broke down, Izvestia reported, citing an unnamed Russian military official.

    “Extra Su-24 and Su-34 bombers and Su-25s are still in reserve on Russian territory. If necessary, the group [in Syria] can be strengthened in 2-3 days. Su-25 ground attack aircraft, …

  • Turkish Foreign Minister says Ankara is ready to work with Russia on a ceasefire in Syria

    According to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey is “more than ready” to work with Russia on coordinating a ceasefire in Syria and delivering humanitarian aid if the Kremlin is also willing to do so, Reuters reported.

    "We discussed the issues of a ceasefire and humanitarian aid with our Iranian counterpart Mr. Zarif yesterday [Iranian Foreign Foreign Minister Javad Zarif]. After the normalization of our relations we are discussing the same issues with our ally Russia," Cavusoglu …

  • UK would consider strengthening sanctions against Russia because of Syria

    The United Kingdom does not rule out the possibility of strengthening sanctions against Russia because of the situation in Syria, the head of the British Foreign Ministry, Boris Johnson, said on the Sky News channel, Interfax reports.

    "All this must be considered," Johnson said, responding to a reporter's question about the possibility of strengthening the sanctions regime against Russia because of the situation in Syria.

    Referring to the recent bombing of a humanitarian convoy in Syria, he …

  • An American reconnaissance plane flew over Russian warships near the Syrian shores

    An anti-submarine warfare plane from the US Navy P-8A Poseidon made a reconnaissance flight on Friday morning in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where Russian ships from the permanent task force in the region are supposedly deployed. Another US reconnaissance plane approached the coast of the Crimea.

    According to Interfax, which refers to websites that track the movement of military aviation, the Poseidon, tail number 168 761, circled for more than two and a half hours over the eastern …