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| Russian carrier takes part in massive strikes on terrorists in Syria’s Idlib & Homs provinces – MoD | Russian carrier takes part in massive strikes on terrorists in Syria’s Idlib & Homs provinces – MoD |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Russian military has launched a large-scale operation against terrorists stationed in Homs and Idlib provinces of Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday. | The Russian military has launched a large-scale operation against terrorists stationed in Homs and Idlib provinces of Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday. |
| "Today at 10:30 and 11:00 we launched a large-scale operation against the positions of Islamic State and Al-Nusra [terrorist groups] in the provinces of Idlib and Homs," Shoigu said at a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the top leadership of the Russian Armed Forces. | "Today at 10:30 and 11:00 we launched a large-scale operation against the positions of Islamic State and Al-Nusra [terrorist groups] in the provinces of Idlib and Homs," Shoigu said at a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the top leadership of the Russian Armed Forces. |
| The 'Admiral Kuznetsov' aircraft carrier, the flagship of the Russian Navy, is also taking part, Shoigu said. This is the first time the 'Admiral Kuznetsov' has taken part in a military operation. Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jets have been launched from the deck of the carrier, the defense minister said. | The 'Admiral Kuznetsov' aircraft carrier, the flagship of the Russian Navy, is also taking part, Shoigu said. This is the first time the 'Admiral Kuznetsov' has taken part in a military operation. Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jets have been launched from the deck of the carrier, the defense minister said. |
| Terrorist positions have been hit with cruise missiles from the frigate ‘Admiral Grigorovich’, Shoigu added. | Terrorist positions have been hit with cruise missiles from the frigate ‘Admiral Grigorovich’, Shoigu added. |
| The strikes are targeting factories and arms depots operated by the jihadists in Syria, he said. | The strikes are targeting factories and arms depots operated by the jihadists in Syria, he said. |
| "The main targets of the strikes are warehouses with ammunition, [terrorist] gatherings and terrorist training centers, as well as plants for the production of various kinds of weapons of mass destruction of the population," Shoigu detailed. | "The main targets of the strikes are warehouses with ammunition, [terrorist] gatherings and terrorist training centers, as well as plants for the production of various kinds of weapons of mass destruction of the population," Shoigu detailed. |
| He stressed that terrorists had actual factories, not merely workshops, for weapons production. "They are factories, not workshops, more specifically the plants for the production of all sorts of rather serious means of mass destruction." | He stressed that terrorists had actual factories, not merely workshops, for weapons production. "They are factories, not workshops, more specifically the plants for the production of all sorts of rather serious means of mass destruction." |
| "Clearly, this is a well-established industrial production, these are the targets for today's strikes. And they will continue," the minister stated. | "Clearly, this is a well-established industrial production, these are the targets for today's strikes. And they will continue," the minister stated. |
| The minister noted that the Russian military had thoroughly surveilled the targets before striking them, choosing the most important. | The minister noted that the Russian military had thoroughly surveilled the targets before striking them, choosing the most important. |
| "You are aware that we have sent a large group of our radiation, chemical and biological protection troops to determine the toxic substances which are used by terrorists. Within the past week they used them twice – in one case, 27 people were hospitalized and three died, in the other case 30 people were hospitalized – I mean the Syrian Army soldiers," Shoigu said. | "You are aware that we have sent a large group of our radiation, chemical and biological protection troops to determine the toxic substances which are used by terrorists. Within the past week they used them twice – in one case, 27 people were hospitalized and three died, in the other case 30 people were hospitalized – I mean the Syrian Army soldiers," Shoigu said. |
| Journalists asked presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov about the possibility of the operation which started on Tuesday to be expanded to include Aleppo. | Journalists asked presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov about the possibility of the operation which started on Tuesday to be expanded to include Aleppo. |
| "Aleppo has not been mentioned in the report of the defense minister; it concerned other areas – Homs and Idlib [provinces]," Peskov told the press. | "Aleppo has not been mentioned in the report of the defense minister; it concerned other areas – Homs and Idlib [provinces]," Peskov told the press. |
| 'Mere lie': Russian military denies reports it bombed Aleppo hospital | |
| Russian jets have not been in the vicinity of Aleppo for the last 28 days and thus could not have targeted the region, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Tuesday. | |
| “Russian Air Force aircraft as well as Syrian air forces have not bombed Aleppo for the last 28 days at all,” Konashenkov said. | |
| Reports by some media outlets regarding an alleged attack on a third hospital in Aleppo carried out by Russian forces is “a mere lie,” Konashenkov added. | |
| Air cover for Russian forces | Air cover for Russian forces |
| President Vladimir Putin previously ordered the Defense Ministry to provide reliable air cover for the Russian forces in Syria. On Tuesday, Shoigu said the Russian military has been covered with S-300 and S-400 Triumph air defense systems. | President Vladimir Putin previously ordered the Defense Ministry to provide reliable air cover for the Russian forces in Syria. On Tuesday, Shoigu said the Russian military has been covered with S-300 and S-400 Triumph air defense systems. |
| “The S-400 has been running for a long time now. Apart from that, we have added S-300 to cover the sea area, nearly all the way to Cyprus,” the minister said. | “The S-400 has been running for a long time now. Apart from that, we have added S-300 to cover the sea area, nearly all the way to Cyprus,” the minister said. |
| “Additionally, the Bastion coastal missile complexes have covered almost the entire coastline,” Shoigu said, noting that “with these complexes, we are able to destroy both sea and ground targets” at distances of 350km for sea targets and nearly 450km for ground targets.Shoigu noted that the issue of providing cover from low-flying targets has also been solved. | “Additionally, the Bastion coastal missile complexes have covered almost the entire coastline,” Shoigu said, noting that “with these complexes, we are able to destroy both sea and ground targets” at distances of 350km for sea targets and nearly 450km for ground targets.Shoigu noted that the issue of providing cover from low-flying targets has also been solved. |
| “That’s what the Pantsir complexes have been deployed there for,” he said, also reporting that Syrian S-200 air defense systems have been restored over the past four months. | “That’s what the Pantsir complexes have been deployed there for,” he said, also reporting that Syrian S-200 air defense systems have been restored over the past four months. |
| According to terrorism expert Max Abrahms, of Northeastern University, there is likely to be more cooperation between Russia and the United States over Syria following Donald Trump’s election. | |
| “More and more I think the US is moving in Syria in the direction of Donald Trump’s preferred policy, which is to go against regime change, and that includes going against the rebels, ceasing to support them, ending the notion of a no-fly zone and expanding the list of militants that the United States deems as terrorists,” Abrahms explained to RT. “And so I think the US is going to be less critical of Russia, giving Putin a freer hand when it comes to taking on Salafist groups like Al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham… already we’re seeing a movement away from Obama’s older policy of regime change.” | |