Russia launches new airstrikes in Syria; 1st from submarine

Russian Federation attacked the Islamic State positions in Syria with Kalibr missiles fired by the submarine deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.

Moscow is once again flaunting its military might after having previously fired missiles from warships in the Caspian Sea.

Rostov-on-Don B-237 submarine (NATO codename “Improved Kilo”) boasts advanced stealth technologies and an extended combat range, armed with 533mm torpedoes and reportedly Kalibr-PL (submarine modification) water-to-surface cruise missiles.

A Russian submarine launched missiles against insurgent positions inside Syria on Tuesday. He said the targets destroyed in the latest wave of Russian airstrikes included a munitions depot, a factory manufacturing mortar rounds and oil facilities.

President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that the Caliber cruise missiles launched from the submarine could be equipped with nuclear warheads but said he hoped they would “never be needed in the fight against terrorism”.

He added: “We appreciate that”, particularly because the Kremlin was not required to do so under a memorandum of understanding signed by Russian Federation and the U.S. to avoid the two sides clashing over Syria.

“It’s not going to be a short operation, it’s not going to be a short war”, Trenin said.

President Vladimir Putin made a decision to help Syrian President Bashar al Assad with the might of his military forces after a Russian airliner carrying 224 people exploded in mid-air soon after taking off from the popular Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheik.

Moscow has denied Ankara’s claims, saying that the Turkish F-16 attacked the Su-24 without warning and over Syrian territory.

Putin ordered the flight recorder to be studied in the presence of foreign experts, adding that the data will show the plane’s flight path.

Mr Shoigu also said that Russian Federation had informed the United States and Israel in advance about the missile strikes.

According to Putin, the information obtained from the flight recorder would not change Russia’s attitude to what the Turkish authorities did.