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| Escalating Syria Attack, Russia Fires Missiles From Warships | Escalating Syria Attack, Russia Fires Missiles From Warships |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOSCOW — Sharply escalating its role in Syria, the Russian military launched on Wednesday medium-range cruise missiles from nearly 1,000 miles away, bringing to the conflict elements of its Cold War-era military might. | |
| The new Russian airstrikes came amid reports of an expanding ground offensive by pro-government forces in Syria, which is taking place in coordination with Russian warplanes operating from an airfield in western Syria. That offensive will include the Syrian Army, Hezbollah forces on the ground and Russia in the air — all coordinated with Iran, according to an official with that alliance. | The new Russian airstrikes came amid reports of an expanding ground offensive by pro-government forces in Syria, which is taking place in coordination with Russian warplanes operating from an airfield in western Syria. That offensive will include the Syrian Army, Hezbollah forces on the ground and Russia in the air — all coordinated with Iran, according to an official with that alliance. |
| The volley was launched from Russian warships in the Caspian Sea to strike targets in Syria. The use of 26 sea-based cruise missiles marked one of the first known uses in combat of Russian missiles with this range. | The volley was launched from Russian warships in the Caspian Sea to strike targets in Syria. The use of 26 sea-based cruise missiles marked one of the first known uses in combat of Russian missiles with this range. |
| The Russian minister of defense, Sergei K. Shoigu, told President Vladimir V. Putin in a televised meeting that the missiles had struck 11 targets in Syria. | The Russian minister of defense, Sergei K. Shoigu, told President Vladimir V. Putin in a televised meeting that the missiles had struck 11 targets in Syria. |
| The targets were about 930 miles, or about 1,500 kilometers, from the Russian flotilla of four warships that launched the missiles, Mr. Shoigu said. No civilians were harmed in the strike, he said. | The targets were about 930 miles, or about 1,500 kilometers, from the Russian flotilla of four warships that launched the missiles, Mr. Shoigu said. No civilians were harmed in the strike, he said. |
| Mr. Putin praised the work of the military in the missile strike and in the air operations in Syria that already showed a flexing of Russia’s military muscle in the Middle East. | Mr. Putin praised the work of the military in the missile strike and in the air operations in Syria that already showed a flexing of Russia’s military muscle in the Middle East. |
| “That we fired from the territory of the Caspian Sea, at a range greater than 1,500 kilometers, and hit targets precisely, this shows high qualifications,” Mr. Putin said, referring to naval crew members. | “That we fired from the territory of the Caspian Sea, at a range greater than 1,500 kilometers, and hit targets precisely, this shows high qualifications,” Mr. Putin said, referring to naval crew members. |
| In Moscow, Russian authorities would not confirm that a ground offensive had begun. But a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, Maria V. Zakharova, said on Wednesday that Russia had never made a secret of its policy of aiding the Syrian military. | In Moscow, Russian authorities would not confirm that a ground offensive had begun. But a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, Maria V. Zakharova, said on Wednesday that Russia had never made a secret of its policy of aiding the Syrian military. |
| “I can say coordination is taking place with the Syrian Army, that is unequivocal,” Ms. Zakharova said. “And we call on everybody else to do the same. Without a collective effort, all these activities in the air are useless.” | “I can say coordination is taking place with the Syrian Army, that is unequivocal,” Ms. Zakharova said. “And we call on everybody else to do the same. Without a collective effort, all these activities in the air are useless.” |
| Russian officials have said since the beginning of their air war that they were targeting Islamic State militants, even when bombs have fallen on territories held by other insurgent groups that oppose President Bashar Al-Assad, including in areas where witnesses reported seeing heavy bombardments on Wednesday. The strikes have hit the Army of Conquest, an Islamist faction that includes the Nusra Front, Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, as well as more-secular groups that often fight alongside, including some that had received American aid. Russia has so far refused to make a distinction between the Army of Conquest and the Islamic State, labeling both groups as terrorists. | Russian officials have said since the beginning of their air war that they were targeting Islamic State militants, even when bombs have fallen on territories held by other insurgent groups that oppose President Bashar Al-Assad, including in areas where witnesses reported seeing heavy bombardments on Wednesday. The strikes have hit the Army of Conquest, an Islamist faction that includes the Nusra Front, Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, as well as more-secular groups that often fight alongside, including some that had received American aid. Russia has so far refused to make a distinction between the Army of Conquest and the Islamic State, labeling both groups as terrorists. |
| It was not immediately clear which groups in Syria the Russian medium-range missiles had struck. | It was not immediately clear which groups in Syria the Russian medium-range missiles had struck. |
| Russian diplomats, Ms. Zakharova said, have asked the United States to identify armed groups other than units of the Syrian Army that are fighting the Islamic State and that should be avoided in airstrikes, but she said they had received no answer. | Russian diplomats, Ms. Zakharova said, have asked the United States to identify armed groups other than units of the Syrian Army that are fighting the Islamic State and that should be avoided in airstrikes, but she said they had received no answer. |
| “If there are some forces that also have weapons in their hands and are on the ground fighting, as the coalition says, with the Islamic State, and they should not be touched, then wonderful,” Ms. Zakharova said. “Give the list, give the call signs of these people. Tell us where are they located, explain why we shouldn’t be touched. Indeed, this information is not provided.” | “If there are some forces that also have weapons in their hands and are on the ground fighting, as the coalition says, with the Islamic State, and they should not be touched, then wonderful,” Ms. Zakharova said. “Give the list, give the call signs of these people. Tell us where are they located, explain why we shouldn’t be touched. Indeed, this information is not provided.” |
| Speaking in Rome, the United States secretary of defense, Ashton B. Carter, reiterated America’s opposition to the Russian offensive. | |
| “We are not prepared to cooperate in a strategy which, as we explained, is flawed, tragically flawed, on Russia’s part,” Mr. Carter said, repeating the American position that Russian strikes were focused on opponents of Mr. Assad, not on Islamic State militants. | |
| NATO has repeatedly warned Russia — so far, to little effect — that its military intervention will only worsen the situation on the ground. Officials with the Atlantic alliance did not have an immediate response to the cruise missile deployment on Wednesday, but pointed to earlier remarks by its secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg. | |
| “I can confirm that we have seen a substantial buildup of Russian forces in Syria,” Mr. Stoltenberg said at a news conference on Monday. “Air forces, air defenses, but also then ground troops in connection with the air base they have.” | |
| He continued: “We also see increased naval presence of Russian ships, naval capabilities outside Syria or the eastern part of the Mediterranean.” |