Russian MoD: 71 out of 103 Missiles SHOT DOWN Over Syria, No Damage to Army or Civilians
Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the missiles launched by the US and its allies, according to the Head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff, Sergey Rudskoy. He said there were no victims among the Syrian military or civilians.
Anton Podkovenko will tell us what Russia's MoD thinks about the situation.
A missile strike on Syria occurred between 3:42 a.m. and 5:10 a.m. Moscow time. Russian air defense on Syria's Tartus and Khmeimim bases detected missile launches from US and UK ships and planes. French Air Force didn't participate in the strike. US Air Force used F-15 and F-16 aircraft. UK's Tornado planes approached the targets from the Mediterranean. As for the US Navy, USS Laboon and USS Monterey, struck from the Red Sea. The B-1B strategic bombers approached from Al-Tanf.
Sergey Rudskoy, the Head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff: "A series of Syria's military airports, industrial, and scientific objects were struck. According to preliminary data, there were no victims among the civilians or the Syrian military. This data will be confirmed and made public".
Syria was hit by controlled aerial bombs, Damascus was hit by air-to-surface missiles, with a total of 103 missiles, including naval Tomahawk missiles. Two-thirds of them were shot down by Syrian air defenses, built in the Soviet Union.
Sergey Rudskoy, the Head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff: "Syrian air defense complexes that were partly manufactured in the Soviet Union successfully intercepted aerial and naval strikes. 71 cruise missiles were intercepted".
Syrians used S-125 and S-200 systems to shoot down the US Tomahawks. Buk (Beech), Kvadrat (Square), and Osa (Bee) were also involved. According to the Russian military, this indicates high effectiveness of these weapons and great military training in Damascus. Our experts trained the Damascus soldiers.
Sergey Rudskoy, the Head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff: "In the past 1.5 years, Russia had fully restored Syrian air defenses and continues to upgrade it. I'd like to note that a few years ago, following a request from our Western partners, we stopped supplying S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Syria. Considering recent events, we're speculating revisiting this issue, and not just about Syria, but other countries, too".
Americans and the UK also struck Syrian air bases. Live recording data speaks for itself. All 4 missiles that were launched towards the Duvali air base were shot down. Same goes for the Al-Dumayr airport and their 12 missiles. Not one tomahawk has made it to Bley and Shayrat aerodromes. Out of the 16 missiles that were launched at Homs, 13 were intercepted. 30 Tomahawks hit Barza and Jaramana, 7 were shot down. These objects that were, in the West's opinion, involved in the alleged Syria's chemical program are partially destroyed, but they haven't been used in a while. There are no people or equipment there.
Sergey Rudskoy, the Head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff: "Russian air defense forces were switched into combat mode. Fighter aircraft patrols the air. No cruise missiles were detected by the Russian air defense systems. Our air defense complexes were not used. We think that this strike was not a response to an alleged chemical attack. It was a reaction to the success of the Syrian Armed Forces in fighting for freeing their territory from international terrorism. The fact of US aggression proves their disinterest in an objective investigation. They are eager to stall the regulation process in Syria and to destabilize the situation in the Middle East. It has nothing to do with their declared goal of fighting international terrorism".
Russia's MoD notes that there are no objects that manufacture chemical weapons in Syria. This was confirmed by the OPCW. The current situation in Damascus is calm. The Russian military is closely monitoring the situation at the National Defense Control Center. They've even displayed footage from surveillance cameras in the streets. The Syrian capital that has suffered a missile strike is returning to normal life.
Anton Podkovenko, Denis Bezlakovsky, Ruslan Abubekerov. Vesti.