Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov commented on the version of the causes of air strikes and long-range bombers Tu-22M3 on militants in Syria, according to which it was an operation of retribution for the death of the Russian pilots of the helicopter Mi-25.
“Continued operation of the Russian space forces. This is all carried out in the ongoing operation of the Russian space forces,” — said Peskov, answering the question whether it was retaliation, reports “RIA Novosti”.
On the eve of the Ministry of defense has officially announced that six long-range bombers Tu-22M3 bombers struck blows to positions of the “Islamic state” (banned in Russia as a terrorist organization). As follows from messages, attacks were made East of Palmyra, es-Sohne and Arak. The bombers destroyed a “large field camp of the insurgents,” three of a warehouse of ammunition and weapons, three tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, eight vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns, “and a large number of manpower,” said the Agency.
The head of the Duma Committee on defense, Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov in conversation with “Interfax” expressed the opinion that the impacts of long-range bombers could be revenge for the death of Russian helicopter Referata Khabibulin and Evgeny Dolgin.
Informed senior sources “Kommersant” told about preparation of the Russian military operation “Retribution” in connection with the death of the pilots. The interlocutors of the newspaper made several variants of its implementation. One of them provided an increase in the number of sorties from the base Hamim and the use of cruise missiles, sea-and air-based. Another suggested the involvement of carrier-based aircraft from the cruiser “Admiral Kuznetsov”, but the Russian authorities denied this opportunity.
In another material “Kommersant” noticed that the flight of the Tu-22M3 was the first use of strategic aviation in Syria since the introduction of silence regime in February 2016. Before that it was actively used by the Russian military.
