Latest military reports indicate that, Russian has started deploying a flotilla of at least 10 armed ships to the Syrian coast.
Open sources reports indicate that most powerful deployment by Russia to Syria since Moscow began its intervention in the war, about two years ago.
Open sources reports come a day after Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov told reporters that Russia was concerned of apparent American cruise strike Syrian government forces and military buildup allegedly ready to launch a final offensive on militant-held Idlib.
The Russian naval grouping is led by the Northern Fleet’s guided missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov, a large anti-submarine warfare ship named the Severomorsk, 3 of Russia’s newest frigates, 1 large patrol ship, 3 small missile boats and two Kilo-class submarines. Many of these ships are armed with Russia’s Kalibr cruise missiles.
Several other Russian armed ships are reportedly en route to join the flotilla, making it Russia’s largest in terms of pure numbers of hulls deployed and naval deployment to Syria — and possibly the largest since the end of the Cold War.
