Russia starts naval drills
RUSSIA: Russia has launched its largest naval exercises in decades in
the Mediterranean and Black Seas near the territorial waters of Syria
amid the ongoing crisis in the Arab country.
The drills “are held in line with the Russian Armed Forces’ 2013
combat training plan and focus on interoperability of task forces from
several fleets while on a mission in a far-off maritime zone,” said an
official statement by Russia’s Defense Ministry on Saturday.
The maneuvers will continue until January 29 and comprise more than
60 drills, including anti-submarine warfare missions, missile and
artillery firing practices.
Russia’s Black Sea, Northern and Baltic fleets, strategic bombers,
tactical aircraft, air defense units, paratroopers and naval infantry
will take part in the naval exercises.
The task forces have four large landing ships and a variety of
auxiliary vessels in their composition which enable the Russian forces
to carry out simulated beach landing and convoy escort missions.
Some of naval manoeuvres are expected to be conducted in the eastern
part of the Mediterranean near the territorial waters of Syria where
foreign-backed terrorists have stepped up their campaign against the
government of President Bashar al-Assad.
PRESS TV
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