Tag Archives: Syria

Destroyer USS Porter Returns to Homeport Following Tomahawk Strike; USS Ross Remains in Eastern Mediterranean

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

How the U.S. Planned and Executed the Tomahawk Strike Against Syria

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

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

Russia Sends Frigate to Mediterranean Following U.S. Retaliation Strike; U.S. Destroyers Remain On Station

Russia Sends Frigate to Mediterranean Following U.S. Retaliation Strike; U.S. Destroyers Remain On Station

Russian Admiral Grigorovich frigate leaving the Black Sea on April 7, 2017 following US Tomahawk strikes in Syria. Photo by Alper Böler used with permission

The Russian Navy has sent its most advanced Black Sea frigate into the Eastern Mediterranean on Friday following a U.S. missile strike on a Syrian airfield, according to ship spotters in Turkey. Read More

VIDEO: U.S. Destroyers Fire 59 Tomahawks on Syrian Airfield in Retaliation for Chemical Attack

VIDEO: U.S. Destroyers Fire 59 Tomahawks on Syrian Airfield in Retaliation for Chemical Attack

This post has been updated to include additional information and will continue to be updated as new details become available.

Two U.S. guided-missile destroyers fired 59 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles in a series of strikes on a Syrian airfield believed to be the origin point of a chemical weapons strike in the northern part of the country, several military officials told USNI News on Thursday night. Read More

UPDATED: Marines with 11th MEU Join the Ground Fight in Syria

UPDATED: Marines with 11th MEU Join the Ground Fight in Syria

Marines with Alpha Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 4th Marines, conduct an M777 Howitzer live-fire night fire mission during Exercise Alligator Dagger in Djibouti on Dec. 18, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

The following post has been updated with a statement from U.S. Central Command.

An undisclosed number of Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Syria recently to join U.S. forces and local forces poised to push Islamic State militants out of the city of Raqqa, according to a report in The Washington Post. Read More