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Russia conducts naval exercises off Syrian coast

August 16, 2016 at 12:03 pm

The Russian navy has started exercises in the Mediterranean off the coast of Syria to test its ability to respond to a “crisis situation of a terrorist nature,” Anadolu has reported.

In a statement, the Russian defence ministry said that the manoeuvres, which started on Monday, included “combat-like” conditions with artillery and missiles being fired. Officials said that two Buyan-M corvettes equipped with long-range cruise missiles, like those which were used to strike Daesh last year, are taking part in the exercises.

According to Anadolu, since its intervention in the Syrian conflict in September last year, Russia has kept its warships stationed off the Syrian coast. It was a Soviet-era practice to keep a fleet in the Mediterranean.

Last Thursday, Russia announced its plan to expand its naval facility in Tartus, Syria. The aim is to turn it an air force base equipped with all the equipment needed for a permanent garrison.