AS RUSSIAFLEXES ITS MUSCLES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND BLACK SEAS, THE WEST, THROUGH THEIR COVERT SUPPORT OF THE SYRIAN OPPOSITION WILL BE IN A TOUGH SPOT. ON ONE SIDE THE ASSAD FORCES THAT HAVE REGAINED STRENGTH DUE TO THEIR RENEWED SUPPORT OF POWERS SUCH AS RUSSIA, IRAN AND CHINA, SO MUCH SO THAT ASSAD HAS BEEN LIVING ON A RUSSIAN WARSHIP ACCORDING TO SOURCES FOR MONTHS.
THE WEST'S PLAN FOR SYRIA HAD BEEN THAT THE REBEL GROUP WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF BUSINESS JUST AS THEY DID IN LIBYA AND EGYPT, BUT WITH SUCH POWER PLAYERS ON ASSAD'S SIDE, IT HAS NOT ONLY BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR DESIRED OBJECTIVES, BUT NOW RUSSIA IS STEPPING UP THE ANTE WITH A CLEAR SIGN TO THE WEST, (NATO) THROUGH THIS VERY LARGE NAVAL DRILL.
JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT IRAN'S 24TH FLEET IS EN ROUTE TO SYRIA TO JOIN UP WITH THE EXISTING AND NEWLY ARRIVING RUSSIAN FLEETS.
SO WITH A FEW WEEKS YOU WILL NOT ONLY HAVE RUSSIAN FLEETS SURROUNDING SYRIA IN DEFENSE OF IT, BUT THESE RUSSIAN SHIPS WILL ALSO HAVE IRANIAN VESSELS AS WELL.
Russia ‘Flexes Muscles’ in Mediterranean Amid Syrian Crisis
MOSCOW, January 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia has started the largest naval exercises in the past few decades in the Mediterranean and Black Seas as a civil war in Syria continues to gain momentum.
The drills involve task forces from Russia’s Black Sea, Northern and Baltic fleets, strategic bombers, tactical aircraft, air defense units, paratroopers and naval infantry.
An official statement by the Defense Ministry, issued on Saturday, says the exercises “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.”
The exercises will continue until January 29 and involve over 60 drills, including anti-submarine warfare missions, missile and artillery firing practices.The training may also include simulated beach landing and convoy escort missions as the task forces have four large landing ships and a variety of auxiliary vessels in their composition.
Some of the exercises are expected to be carried out in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, and, possibly close to the territorial waters of Syria, where rebels have recently stepped up their attacks on army installations in their determined drive to oust President Bashar Al-Assad.
At least 60,000 people have been killed in Syria’s conflict since March 2011, according to latest UN data.
Russia has faced heavy international criticism over its refusal to back UN sanctions against Syria, its last ally in the Arab world, over what it called the pro-rebel bias of some resolutions proposed by Western nations.
Moscow denies it is backing President Bashar Assad and says it is concerned that the Syrian president’s forced departure would only worsen the conflict and lead to the repetition of the so-called ‘Libyan scenario.”
The Russian Navy keeps a naval re-supply and maintenance base in the Syrian port of Tartus to support its operations in the Mediterranean.
Referring to the Navy’s recent drill, dubbed Velayat 91, Sayyari said the maneuver displayed Iran’s naval capability and its ability to counter any threat against the interests of the Islamic Republic.
On Friday, Iran Navy launched six-day naval drills codenamed, dubbed Velayat 91, to “defend its maritime borders and maintain lasting peace in the region.”
Iran Navy to Deploy to Mediterranean
http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20130116/178824364/Iran_Navy_to_Deploy_to_Mediterranean.html
MOSCOW, January 16 (RIA Novosti) - Iran will deploy a fleet of warships to the Mediterranean Sea, Navy chief Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Wednesday.
“The Navy’s 24th fleet of warships will patrol the north of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, the Red Sea, Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea for three months and will even sail as far as southeastern Asian countries,” Sayyari was quoted by Press TV as saying.
The 23rd fleet of warships will return to the country next week, he added.Referring to the Navy’s recent drill, dubbed Velayat 91, Sayyari said the maneuver displayed Iran’s naval capability and its ability to counter any threat against the interests of the Islamic Republic.
On Friday, Iran Navy launched six-day naval drills codenamed, dubbed Velayat 91, to “defend its maritime borders and maintain lasting peace in the region.”
The exercises covered a vast area including the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, north of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
No comments:
Post a Comment