Russia conducts its largest maneuvers in the Mediterranean

Damascus: Media here reported today that the Russian forces conducted military exercises in the Mediterranean waters from their naval and air bases on the Syrian coast and successfully tested new deterrent weapons.

The maneuvers included the participation of MiG-31-K fighters loaded with hypersonic Kinzal missiles, TU 22M3 fighter-bomber aircraft with KH22 hypersonic missiles, in addition to approximately 150 naval units, 70 modern combat aircraft and helicopters, 15 warships and 10 thousands of soldiers.

Syrian and Russian media reported that a MiG-31-K that took off from the Hmeimim air base in the Syrian coastal province of Latakia fired a Kanzal missile for the first time, while another missile was successfully launched by an IL-38 anti-submarine aircraft.

The Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, arrived in Syria to supervise the maneuvers and met with President Bashar al-Assad, in which the two sides endorsed the will to continue joint efforts in the fight against terrorism.

According to analysts, these exercises, which are the largest for Russian forces in the Mediterranean, are part of Russia’s defensive and deterrent response to the growing threats from NATO.