Russia Sends Missile Cruiser To Eastern Mediterranean

Russian military officials say Moscow is sending three
more naval ships, including a missile cruiser, to the
Eastern Mediterranean, as the United States is
preparing for a possible strike on Syria.
The missile cruiser, Moskva, will take over the navy’s
operations in the region, a move which Russia says is
needed to protect its national interests, state agency
Interfax quoted a military source as saying on
Wednesday.
"The Cruiser Moskva is heading to the Strait of
Gibraltar. In approximately 10 days it will enter the
East Mediterranean, where it will take over as the
flagship of the naval task force," said the unnamed
military source.
The missile cruiser is to be joined by two other
vessels, a destroyer from Russia’s Baltic Fleet and a
frigate from the Black Sea Fleet, which are to arrive in
the region until Friday.
Russia has recently deployed other warships to the
Eastern Mediterranean. On September 1, Moscow sent
its Priazovye reconnaissance ship to the region tasked
with collecting information in the tense region, which
will be operating separately from the naval unit.
Last week, Russian Defense Ministry reported that
additional warships, including the Moskva, were being
sent to the Mediterranean on routine mission.
Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already
made it clear that Russia has no intention of getting
dragged into any military action against Syria.
Moscow insists that the Syrian crisis must be solved
through political dialogue.
The war rhetoric against Syria gained momentum after
the militants operating inside the country and the
foreign-backed Syrian opposition claimed on August
21 that hundreds had been killed in a government
chemical attack on militant strongholds in the
Damascus suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka and Jobar.
The Syrian government categorically rejects the claim,
saying the attack was carried out by the militants to
draw in military intervention.
According to reports, the militants in Syria are backed
by the Western powers and their regional allies --
especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011.
The United Nations has reported that more than
100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced
due to the violence.