Russian Navy ships may join Syria operation - General Staff

MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. The Russian Navy’s ships in the Mediterranean may be involved in the strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, a deputy chief of the Russian General Staff said on Friday in an interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. "Undoubtedly," Colonel General Andrei Kartapolov said in reply to this question. He stressed that the capabilities of Russian ships in the Mediterranean Sea allow for delivering strikes IS targets at any moment. The ships are currently tasked with protecting cargoes and ensuring air defense. "Our unit first of all ensures transporting materiel. In order for it to be unhindered, a Navy unit was deployed there, including attack ships. Moreover, this unit ensures guaranteed air defense for our base. Air defense systems are not in any way directed against coalition countries," he added. At the end of September , Russian Federation Council unanimously granted permission to the Russian president to use the nation’s military force in Syria. Russia will use only its Air Force in Syria against Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups upon the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov said, stressing that no ground troops will be sent. Russian Aerospace Defense Forces started delivering targeted strikes against IS facilities on Wednesday, September 30. Read more