A Russian carrier group off Syria — ordered to the Mediterranean Sea by Russian President Vladimir Putin — unleashed waves of air attacks and missile strikes as Russian forces launched a major new offensive in Syria.
Russia’s assault kicked off just hours after Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, speaking by phone, discussed efforts in Syria in what Moscow has said its enemy is the fight against “international terrorism and extremism.”
In Moscow, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said “massive strikes” were launched against positions in Idlib and Homs provinces which are regions north of Damascus and include rebel-held zones. Shoigu told Putin in a Kremlin meeting that Su-33 jets were launched from the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and that the frigate Admiral Grigorivch launched cruise missile strikes. Land-based missiles were also launched in the attack.
Russia has promised an all-out offensive to retake Aleppo for the Syrian Government of Bashar Hafez al-Assad.