Russian forces carried out military exercises in the waters of the Mediterranean from their two naval and air bases on the Syrian coast and successfully tested new deterrent weapons, media reported here today.
The maneuvers included the participation of MiG-31-K fighters loaded with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and TU 22M3 fighter-bombers with KH22 hypersonic anti-ship missiles, in addition to approximately 150 naval pieces, 70 combat aircraft, modern helicopters, 15 warships and 10 thousand soldiers.
Syrian and Russian media reported that a MIG-31-K taking off from Hemeimem air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia fired a Kinzhal missile for the first time, while another missile was successfully fired by an İl-38 anti-submarine aircraft.
The Russian Defense Minister, Serguei Shoigu, arrived in Syria to supervise the maneuvers and met with President Bashar Al-Assad, a meeting in which both ratified the will to continue joint efforts in the fight against terrorism.
According to analysts, these exercises, which are the largest of Russian forces in the Mediterranean, are part of Russia’s deterrent and defense response to the growing threats from NATO.
