Real War News: Russia May Use Navy to Impose Blockade on Syrian Coast

TEHRAN (FNA)- Russia’s Black Sea Fleet may be used in Syria to blockade the Syrian coastline and deliver armaments, as well as possibly deliver artillery strikes, the head of Russian State Duma’s defense committee and former Black Sea Fleet commander Vladimir Komoyedov said.

Russia began precision strikes against ISIL targets in Syria on September 30. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Russia’s air force has in the past two days destroyed terrorist headquarters, an explosives factory, a training camp and other targets. The targets are chosen based on Russian and Syrian reconnaissance data, RIA Novosti reported.

“Regarding the large-scale use of the Black Sea Fleet in this operation, I don’t think it will happen, but in terms of a coastal blockade, I think that it’s quite )possible(. The delivery of artillery strikes hasn’t been excluded; the ships are ready for this, but there is no point in it for now. The terrorists are in deep, where the artillery cannot reach,” Komoyedov said.

Komoyedov added that the size of the naval grouping used in the operation will depend on the intensity of the fighting. He noted that currently, the navy’s Mediterranean flotilla is currently sufficient for actions in the given area.

Komoyedov also said that auxiliary vessels will certainly be used in the operation against ISIL to deliver armaments as well as military and technical equipment.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Military sources said that the Russian fighter jets stormed the positions of the ISIL terrorists in Eastern Hama to pave the ground for safer ground access to the militant-held Tabaqa airbase and Raqqa, known as the capital of the ISIL group.

The sources said that the Russian air force stormed the ISIL Takfiri group with a series of airstrikes in Aqayrbat in the Al-Salamiyah district, in the Eastern parts of the Hama governorate.

The airstrikes inside ‘Aqayrbat marked the first time since the Russian air force began its aerial campaign in Syria.

The Russian fighter jets struck the terrorist group inside ‘Aqayrbat at least a half dozen times before the civilian-led “National Defense Forces” (NDF) launched a flurry of mortar shells and rockets into the aforementioned city.

East Hama is one of the most densely populated ISIL locations in Syria; it has become a primary target for the Russian air force due to its proximity to the Tabaqa Military Airport (ISIL’s main base in Syria) and the provincial capital of Raqqa Governorate.

As long as the ISIL controls the Eastern countryside of the Al-Salamiyah district, they have full access to Northeastern Homs and the densely populated Ismayeeli (minority religious sect) city of Al-Salamiyah.

Since the ISIL capture of the Tabaqa airbase in August of 2014, the terrorist group has been able to expand their control over this rural area in Hama’s Eastern countryside; if it remains under ISIL control, the Syrian Armed Forces could face serious issues down the road due to its proximity to the major highways leading to both Hama city and Homs city.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Military sources said that the Kurdish fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in fierce clashes with the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in the Northern governorate of Hasaka, killed at least 27 militants and retook full control over three villages.

The sources said that the YPG fighters, supported by female fighters of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), regained three villages near Mount Abdulaziz in the Western countryside of Hasaka.

The YPG Media Center said that at least 27 ISIS militants were killed during the clashes.

“Our forces continued their progress against the terrorists in Hasaka province. We have seized a lot of weapons and ammunition during the anti-ISIL operations in Mount Abdulaziz and the surrounding villages,” a member of the YPG said.

Moreover, the Kurdish forces captured six ISIL militants.

Also on Saturday, the Kurdish forces repelled an offensive by the ISIL militants in several villages in the Western countryside of Hasaka, including Bdej, Ghara, Tel Hamam and Jafra.

“The terrorist group has tried to attack Western Hasaka from several sides, but our forces have been prepared and we have received large reinforcements from neighboring areas. The YPG forces have successfully repelled the attack and forced the terrorists of ISIL to withdraw from the area,” the YPG said.

Russian Warplanes Destroy ISIL Base in Syria’s Idlib

TEHRAN (FNA)- Russian Su-24M and Su-34 bombers operating from the Hmeymim airbase have destroyed a number of key ISIL facilities, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

The Russian Air Force has carried out airstrikes in Syria’s Homs province against three ISIL facilities and destroyed two weapons depots, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Gen.-Maj. Igor Konashenkov said Monday, RIA Novosti reported.

“Two terrorist arms depots were destroyed by Su-34 (Fullback fighter bombers) and Su-24 (Fencer attack aircraft). The depots caught on fire after the strikes, destroying the facilities,” Konashenkov told journalists.

In a forest area near Idlib, a hidden terrorist base was detected, the Defense Ministry spokesman said. There were about 30 automobile and armored vehicles including T-55 tanks seized from the Syrian army earlier.

In addition, Russian Su-24M bombers have completely wiped out an ISIL command point near the Syrian city of Al-Rastan.

“As a result of a direct hit, the object was completely destroyed,” Konashenkov said.

Three facilities used by ISIL terrorists were also hit near Talbiseh in the Homs province.

Russian Su-25 attack aircraft hit an ISIL camp near Jisr al-Shughur in the Idlib province, destroying a terrorist warehouse and four vehicles, which caught fire when ammunition detonated, Konashenkov added.

Altogether, the Russian air group deployed in Syria struck nine ISIL facilities over the past 24 hours. Russian Su-34, Su-24M, and Su-25 jets completed a total of 25 sorties from the Hmeymim airbase, according to the ministry.

All Russian Air Force airstrikes in Syria are directed at the disorganization of the command system, as well as against the ISIL’s technical support, Konashenkov said.