Two Russian Navy ships fired four cruise missiles into Syria from the Eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday, U.S. defense officials confirmed to USNI News. Read More
Tag Archives: Syria
11th MEU: Contingency Ops, Crisis Response is ‘Our Bread and Butter’
U.S. Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fire an M777 Howitzer during a fire mission in northern Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve on Mar. 24, 2017. US Marine Corps Photo
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The Marine Corps touts its ship-based Marine expeditionary unit deployments as its go-to, “911” force when needed. The Navy highlights its amphibious ready groups for the forward presence and “power projection” it gives overseas combatant commanders. Read More
Sinking of Surveillance Ship Highlights Increase in Russian Navy Operations
A Russian Kilo submarine passes the parade stand during the Russia Navy Day celebration in Vladivostok. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated to clarify the deployment of Russian Navy Kilo-class attack submarineRostov-na-Donu.
The sinking of the Russian signals intelligence ship Liman after a collision with a Togo-flagged freighter bound for Jordan puts the spotlight back on a Russian Navy that is increasingly active in the maritime domain in and around Europe and a Black Sea region that continues to be tense in the wake of the 2014 Ukraine crisis when Russia annexed Crimea. Read More
CRS Legal Sidebar: Was U.S. Strike on Syrian Airbase Legal?
The following is the April 17, 2017 Congressional Research Service Legal Sidebar: U.S. Strike on Syrian Airbase: Legal under International Law? Read More
Italian PM Pushing for Political Removal of Bashar Al-Assad from Power
H. E. Paolo Gentiloni in New York in 2015. Photo by Luca Marfe’
Italy’s Prime Minster backed President Donald Trump’s retaliatory Tomahawk cruise missiles strike in response to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons and said on Thursday action could provide “new momentum to foster a political solution.” Read More
Document: Report to Congress on Armed Conflict in Syria
The following is the April 7, 2017 Congressional Research Service report, Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response. Read More
Destroyer USS Porter Returns to Homeport Following Tomahawk Strike; USS Ross Remains in Eastern Mediterranean
Sailors man the rails aboard the guided- missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) as the ship returns to Naval Station Rota, Spain, April 11, 2017. US Navy Photo
One of the U.S. destroyers tasked with launching a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile on a Syrian airfield last week has returned to its homeport in Spain, the service announced on Tuesday. Read More
Russia Sends More Warships Toward Syria Following U.S. Tomahawk Strikes
Two Steregushchiy-class corvettes moored at the Russian naval base in Kaliningrad
A Russian Navy surface action group is headed to the Eastern Mediterranean departing shortly after a U.S. Tomahawk missile strike on a Syrian airfield, a U.S. defense official told USNI News on Monday. Read More
How the U.S. Planned and Executed the Tomahawk Strike Against Syria
USS Porter (DDG-78) conducts strike operations while in the Mediterranean Sea, April 7, 2017. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with additional information on the intellgence findings that informed U.S. leaders’ decision to carry out the attack on Thursday.
THE PENTAGON — Senior U.S. defense officials today briefed reporters on the planning and execution of a Tomahawk strike on al-Shayrat Airfield in Western Syria Thursday night, which involved two guided-missile destroyers launching 59 missiles at targets. Read More
Russia Suspends Air Space Deconfliction Agreement With U.S. After Chemical Weapons Retaliation Strikes
A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet flies off the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker over Iraq after refuel Sept. 28, 2016. US Air Force Photo
THE PENTAGON — Russia said it suspended an airspace deconfliction agreement with U.S. forces operating in and around Syria, in a statement deriding the U.S. for its Thursday night attack on a Syrian airfield with 59 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles launched from two destroyers operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, but senior U.S. military officials said the deconfliction hotline is still open and Russians are answering their calls. Read More
