Russia Starts The Largest Naval Exercises In The Past Few Decades In The Mediterranean And Black Seas

Russia ‘Flexes Muscles’ in Mediterranean Amid Syrian Crisis. © Photo Press office of Russian Northern Fleet

Russia ‘Flexes Muscles’ in Mediterranean Amid Syrian Crisis -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, January 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia has started the largest naval exercises in the past few decades in the Mediterranean and Black Seas as a civil war in Syria continues to gain momentum.

The drills involve task forces from Russia’s Black Sea, Northern and Baltic fleets, strategic bombers, tactical aircraft, air defense units, paratroopers and naval infantry.

An official statement by the Defense Ministry, issued on Saturday, says the exercises “are held in line with the Russian Armed Forces’ 2013 combat training plan and focus on interoperability of task forces from several fleets while on a mission in a far-off maritime zone.”

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My Comment: Only 8 ships are involved ... but the Russians are sending a political message to the world that they are still supporting the Assad regime.