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Conflict in Syria

Top brass: Missiles of US, allies steered clear of Russian air defenses

The United States, France and Britain have launched a joint operation against Syria

© AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/. Not a single missile of those launched against Damascus ventured into the zones of Russian air defenses in Tartus and Hmeymim, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

This evening's statement by #SecDef Mattis on #Syria from the #Pentagon: https://t.co/TvsiqOZxBi
— Dana W. White - DoD (@ChiefPentSpox) 14 April 2018

"None of the cruise missiles launched by the United States and its allies entered the zones of Russian air defenses around Tartus and Hmeymim," the Defense Ministry said.

Russia did not use its air defense systems in Syria to counter the missile strike of the US, UK and France, the Defense Ministry added.

"The Russian defense united deployed in the Syrian Arab Republic were not used to counter the strike," the ministry said.

Read also

US, France, Britain begin operation against Syria

The missile strike against Syria’s military and civilian infrastructures was carried out by US planes and naval ships in cooperation with British and French air forces between 03:42 and 05:10 Moscow time on Saturday.

The United States, Britain and France said the strikes were a response to an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria’s Douma.

According to some sources, approximately ten targets were attacked. The Syrian news agency SANA does not confirm this information. The Pentagon said twice as many weapons were fired as in April 2017 against the Shayrat airbase.

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