Russia to Cyprus: Syria Military Exercises next Week

Local Editor

Russia has issued an alert for Cyprus to divert aircraft from normal flight paths as it plans to conduct military exercises off the Syria' coast next week, officials on the island said Friday.

"They might carry out military exercises and they might not, but the dates have been reserved," the source said.

A copy of the NOTAMs on the FAA website gave the coordinates for what it said were a "Russian navy exercise" including "rocket test firings" between September 8 and 15.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Moscow has stepped up naval training exercises off the Syrian coast in recent months and is preparing to hold more drills, according to several sources.

A squadron of five Russian naval ships, equipped with guided missiles, has set off to conduct maneuvers in Syrian territorial waters, including possibly firing rockets, a source close to the Russian navy told Reuters on Friday.

"They will train to repulse an attack from the air and to defend the coast, which means firing artillery and testing short-range air defence systems," the source said, adding that the exercise had been agreed with the Syrian government.

News of the drill coincided with calls from Russia for Washington to restart direct military-to-military cooperation to avert "unintended incidents" near Syria.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday Russian navy exercises in Mediterranean were routine.

"It's a well-known fact. They are being held in full accordance with international law," he told reporters.
A spokesman for Russia's Black Sea Fleet, based in Crimea, refused to comment on any ongoing exercises near Syria.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team