A high-ranking source in the Russian defense ministry says several Russian warships are on their way to the Mediterranean Sea to guard Syrian coasts for the foreseeable future.
“A decision has been made to deploy Russian warships near the Syrian shores on a permanent basis,” the state-run RIA news agency quoted the source as saying on Friday.
Warships include the Russian destroyer Smetlivy, Kashin-class destroyer , which is patrolling waters off Syria now. Armament for the Smetlivy include a impressive array of weapons:
2 x double barreled 76 mm AK-726 guns,
SAM: 2 x twin launchers (NATO reporting name: SA-N-1 Volna),
Navalised version of the Isayev S-125 (SA-3 Goa) system,
32 x missiles,
1×5 533 mm torpedo tubes,
2 x twelve barrel RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers,
2×4 anti-ship SS-N-25 Uran missiles.
The Smetlivy will be replaced by another warship from Black Sea Fleet in May. According to various Russian reports more warships are on their way to Syria to act as a deterrence to any type of pre-emptive attack by the United States or NATO. Russia maintains a naval base in Syria.
Russia has voiced support for Syria against unprecedented collusion and pressure from Western countries and some Arab states to destabilize the crisis-hit Middle Eastern country and topple the government of President Bashar al-Assad. That includes arming and financing terrorists to conduct attacks against police and civilians in Syria, under the guise of supporting peaceful protesters?
Moscow says Syria’s crisis should be solved through negotiations, rejecting US military interventionism and bombing to end the unrest.
great move by Russia. appreciated. dont believe mass media reports and human rights reports as they are only propaganda.
Thank goodness there is one country willing to oppose US militarism.