Sunday 26 August 2018

Russian Armada on way to Syria amidst new chemical attack warnings


Russia Sends Largest Naval Armada Of Syrian War Amidst New Chemical Attack Warnings



25 August, 2018

We observed previously after John Bolton's threat late this week of "greater military force" should chemical weapons allegations emerge against Damascus, that a familiar pattern has long been in play on Syria: just when it appears the jihadists are on the brink of final defeat, and as stability is returning after seven years of grinding war, something happens to bring things right back to the brink of global crisis and escalation


Russia has built up its forces around the Mediterranean Sea in response to reports that the U.S., France, and Great Britain could be preparing to attack Syria after US National Security Advisor John Bolton informed Russia that America is prepared to respond with greater military force than it has used against Assad’s regime in the past, according to Bloomberg.

According to Yoruk Isik of the Bosphorus Observerthe Russian Navy has sent another armada of ships towards Syria’s territorial waters in order to increase the strength of their forces around the country.


Isik said that the powerful Russian warships, Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen class frigate, were spotted transiting the Bosphorus Strait en route to the Port of Tartous.

This latest move by the Russian Navy comes just 24 hours after they sent three ships en route to the Port of Tartous in western Syria.



Redeployed to Mediterranean after 86 days & armed with Kalibr SS-N-27 missiles, Admiral Grigorovich class frigate Admiral Grigorovich departed BlackSea 03:00Z and transited Bosphorus towards Mediterranean. Turkish CoastGuard TCSG15 monitored the frigates. pic.twitter.com/oCd8rYsuPn

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New & powerful: Armed with Kalibr SS-N-27 missiles, second Admiral Grigorovich class frigate AdmIral Essen redeployed to Mediterranean after 58 days & transits Bosphorus en route to pic.twitter.com/lnflQbZJzx

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The Turkish coast guard monitored the frigates as they passed through the Bosporus toward the Mediterranean, reportedly en route to Russia's only major deep-water port in the region along the Syrian coast.

Russia builds up in preparation for the final chapter of the war: Armed with Kalibr SS-N-27 missiles, Admiral Grigorovich class frigates Admiral Grigorovich & Admiral Essen transit Bosphorus towards Med back-to-back en route to . My pics v @reuterspictures pic.twitter.com/dE65QIYWke

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Redeployed to Mediterranean after 86 days & armed with Kalibr SS-N-27 missiles, Admiral Grigorovich class frigate Admiral Grigorovich departed BlackSea 03:00Z and transited Bosphorus towards Mediterranean. Turkish CoastGuard TCSG15 monitored the frigates. pic.twitter.com/oCd8rYsuPn

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With the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) preparing to launch a large-scale offensive in northwest Syria, Russia fears that the jihadist rebels may fake a chemical weapons attack in order to get the U.S. and its allies to attack the government.
Ships are also being deployed as Syrian and Russian forces prepare for what's expected to be the final push to liberate all of Idlib province, which Russian forces are expected to play a central role in executing. 




Project 1171 BSF Tapir/Alligator class LST Nikolai Filchenkov 152 transits Bosphorus towards Med en route to for its 6th campaign deployment in 2018 carrying Ural & KamAZ trucks, GAZ ambulance & possibly BTR-80 with Pelena 6B jammer under the camouflage. pic.twitter.com/Arlhy1qMw5

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Heavy: Supply & reinforcement for Russia’s final push in the campaign: Project 1171 BlackSea Fleet Tapir (NATO:Alligator) class LST Orsk 148 transits Bosphorus towards Mediterranean en route to for its 7th campaign deployment in 2018. pic.twitter.com/2Z25rs0rfG

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Currently, the following Russian military vessels are stationed in the Mediterranean near the Syrian coast according to Naval military observers:
  • CG Marshal Ustinov
  • DDG Severomorsk
  • DDG Yaroslav Mudryy
  • FFG Admiral Grigorovich
  • FFG Admiral Essen
  • FFL Pytlivyy
  • FSG Vyshniy Volochek
  • FSG Grad Sviyazhsk
  • FSG Velikiy Ustyug
  • LST Orsk
  • LST Nikolay Fil'chenkov
  • MS Turbinist
  • MS Valentin Pikul
  • SS Kolpino
  • SS Velikiy Novgorod
Those listed are featured in the following: 




Meanwhile, in reference to reports that Washington could be preparing another round of attacks, the Russian MoD pointed out on Saturday that "the US Navy’s destroyer Sullivans with 56 cruise missiles on its board arrived in the Persian Gulf several days ago while a B-1B strategic bomber of the US Air Force armed with AGM-158 JASSM air-to-surface missiles was redeployed to the Al Udeid air base in Qatar," according to TASS.





The long-running US and Russian proxy war in Syria has been largely forgotten of late, but suddenly snapped back into international headlines with John Bolton's warning Assad and Russia this week that Washington will respond with "greater military force" should claims of a Syrian government chemical attack emerge in Idlib.

In response, Russia subsequently warned of a staged "chemical provocation" coming and it appears a war of words is yet again ratcheting up over Syria, which has the very real potential of turning into an actual war.

It fits a familiar pattern on Syria since Russian intervention at the invitation of President Bashar al-Assad in 2015: just when it appears the jihadists are on the brink of final defeat, and as stability is returning after seven years of grinding war, something happens to bring things right back to the brink of global crisis and escalation.

And now, a senior Russian lawmaker in the Federal Assembly (Duma) has called on his government to draw its own "red lines" while suggesting the use of tactical nuclear weapons against United States forces in Syria. ….

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