Russia sends warships to Syria ahead of final assault on Idlib

RUSSIA is massing its naval forces in the Mediterranean ahead of an expected assault by the Assad regime on the last major rebel stronghold in Syria.

At least 10 Russian warships and two submarines have been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean in the largest naval build-up since Moscow’s intervention in Syria began in 2015, according to Russian media.

The gathering of ships comes as Syrian regime forces turn their attention towards Idlib, a rebel-held province on the border with Turkey.

Most of the warships are armed with long-range Kalibr missiles, which could be used to attack ground targets.

The naval build-up may also be intended to deter the United States and its allies from intervening if Bashar alassad’s forces use chemical weapons.

John Bolton, the US national security adviser, warned last week that the US would respond “very strongly” if the regime used chemical weapons.

Days later, Russia’s defence ministry claimed it had evidence that jihadists in Idlib were planning to stage a chemical weapons attack in order to trick the West into carrying out strikes against the regime.

The build up comes as Russia announced plans to hold its biggest war games in four decades.

Sergei Shoigu, the defence minister, said the East-2018 exercise will take place in September and will involve almost 300,000 troops, more than 1,000 military aircraft, two of Russia’s naval fleets, and all its airborne units.

The defence ministry said the exercise would be the biggest since the Soviet Union’s West-81 exercise in 1981 and that the Chinese and Mongolian militaries would also participate.

Capturing Idlib would mark a crucial final stage in President Assad’s ambitions to put down the rebellion which broke out against him in 2011.