U.S. Scrambles Fighter Jets as Russia Launches Cruise Missiles at Targets in Syria

Russia launched long-range Kalibr cruise missiles from Mediterranean Sea to target al-Qaeda linked militants in Syria

EDITOR’S NOTE: It was a crazy day in Syria yesterday with not only Russia launching cruise missiles but the United States scrambling fighter jets for the first against the Syrian government. Russia continues to call the shots in the Middle East with the US relegated to responding. 

Russia has launched long-range cruise missiles at Syrian militants from the Mediterranean Sea, according to footage released by the country’s Ministry of Defence. Russian warships have in the past launched cruise missiles at targets in Syria from both the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean, a show of the navy’s long-range precision strike capability.

The country’s Defense Ministry said that the Serpukhov and the Zeleny Dol corvettes launched three long-range Kalibr cruise missiles at the al-Qaeda-linked militant group of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front.

The ministry said that the missiles destroyed a command facility and a militant camp near Daret Azzeh along with a mine-making facility and a weapons facility in the province of Aleppo. The missiles accompany the aerial campaign Russia has conducted since September in support of President Bashar Assad’s military.

U.S. is forced to scramble fighter jets to intercept Assad’s planes bombing special forces in Syria

The U.S. has twice scrambled fighter aircraft to protect American special operations forces and allies after Syrian government warplane attacks near the northeastern Syrian city of Hassakeh, officials said Friday.

Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the U.S. has increased combat air patrols in that area and has warned Syria that America will defend coalition troops. He also said he believes this is the first time the U.S. has scrambled aircraft in response to an incident like this involving Syrian government bombings.

Davis said a small number of U.S. commandos were in the area Thursday training and advising Syrian Democratic Forces. The Syrian government strikes, he said, ‘did not directly impact our forces. They were nearby — close enough that it gives us great pause’.

The U.S. initially contacted the Russians, and Moscow denied responsibility for the bombings.

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