US isi mai trmite si portavionul Truman si grupul sau de 7 nave de insotire inarmate cu rachete in M Mediterana!
U.S. Navy Destroyer Armed With Tomahawks Arrives Off Syrian Coast, „Harassed” By Russian Warplanes
As the situation in Syria continues to escalate, guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook has weighed anchor off Syrian territorial waters, and is reportedly being „harassed” by low-flying Russian warplanes, which have buzzed the „Arleigh Burke” class warship at least four times according to CNN Turk.
Of note, the Donald Cook has 60 Tomahawk cruise missiles on board.
It is claimed that the US Donald Cook-named destroyer left Cyprus ‘s Larnaca port and landed near Syrian territorial waters. It was claimed that the missile destroyer named „Arleigh Burke” class Donald Cook (DDG-75) reached Tallus 100 kilometers and had 60 Tomahawk fuses on board. –CNN Turk (translated)
A Navy source confirmed the deployment with the Washington Examiner, who said that the guided-missile-destroyer had just completed a port call in Cyprus, while the Pentagon reportedly draws up plans for how to deal with the situation.
U.S. military planners have drawn up more than one option for possible military action against Syria, including a strike similar to last year’s attack in which 59 sea-launched cruise missiles inflicted heavy damage on a Syrian Air Force airfield in Homs.
Pentagon officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the options now are similar to those presented to President Trump after last year’s chemical attack in northern Syria that killed and injured hundreds of civilians, including women and children.
But officials said the president could decide to choose a more robust option this time, given that Syrian President Bashar Assad didn’t seem to get the message last time. –Washington Examiner
What is surprising is that according to the latest Stratfor naval map, there was no other major naval support – either amphibious or carrier strike groups – in the vicinity of Syria as of April 5.
The destroyer’s aggressive positioning comes hours after Israel conducted a Monday morning strike on Syria’s T-4 airfield, situated about halfway between Homs (Syria’s third-largest city) and Palmyra (famously the site of ancient ruins). RT reports that two Israeli F-15 jets fired eight guided missiles at the airfield from Lebanese airspace. The jets never entered Syria.
The IDF has long noted the T-4 base for its housing of Iranian and Quds forces with the backing of Syria.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reports on Monday „I don’t rule out anything right now,” when asked about a potential response – noting Russia’s alleged involvement.
“The first thing we have to look at is, why are chemical weapons still being used at all when Russia was the framework guarantor of removing all the chemical weapons?” he said. “And so, working with our allies and our partners from NATO to Qatar and elsewhere, we are going to address this issue.”
Last year, the U.S. warned the Kremlin ahead of the strike so that Russia could make sure its planes and personnel in Syria were not in harm’s way.
This time, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow has issued an explicit warning to Washington that any “military intervention” in Syria would be “unacceptable” and would lead to the “most serious consequences.”
The U.S. acted alone in April last year, but this time it could work through a coordinated international response. –Washington Examiner
Britain and France have also hinted at possible military action in Syria – following comments by British Foreign Secretary, who spoke by phone with French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday, saying that there should be „no impunity for those that use such barbaric weapons,” in reference to the gas attack.
Speaking to reporters at a Monday cabinet meeting, President Trump said he would be making a decision „very quickly, probably by the end of today” about the U.S. response.
“This is about humanity. We’re talking about humanity, and it can’t be allowed to happen,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Russia appears to be making preparations for an imminent, US-led attack and according to unconfirmed reports, there have been „intensive flights of Russian aircrafts along the Syrian coast & over Khmeimim base, in addition to the intense flights of military aircrafts belonging to the Assad regime in the sky of Homs. There is great anticipation from Assad and Russia for a possible blow.”
US Deploys Truman Carrier Strike Group And 7 Warships With Cruise Missiles To Mediterranean
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) is being deployed to the Mediterranean Wednesday, where it will join the USS Donald Cook off Syrian territorial waters.
The aircraft carrier will be accompanied by guided-missile destroyers USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) and USS Farragut (DDG 99), as well as the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60). The Destroyers USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) will join the HSTCSG later, according to a statement by the US Navy.
The Sachssen-class German frigate FGS Hessen (F 221) will also operate as part of the strike group during the first half of the deployment.
It is worth noting that it will take approximately 6-7 days for the group to cross the Atlantic at 30 knots, plus another 3-4 three days once it arrives in the Mediterranean, to reach Syria, suggesting a full-blown on attack may not take place until after April 22 or so.
The strike group, carrying 6,500 sailors and Carrier Air Wing One, will cruise alongside the German frigate FGS Hessen during the first half of the deployment. The German ship conducted a brief mission with the Harry S. Truman in 2010, the Navy said according to Stripes.com
This will be the first extended deployment for the Harry S. Truman since wrapping a 10-month maintenance period last July. The mission will include „maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts alongside allies and partners,” and they will „provide crisis response capability and increase theater security cooperation and forward naval presence” in the Middle East and Europe, according to the statement.
The Harry S. Truman will replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group, which wrapped up its four-month deployment to the Middle East last month, and is operating in the Western Pacific.
The Harry S. Truman, which is assigned to the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command, last traveled to the Middle East in 2015 to join the anti-Islamic State mission Operation Inherent Resolve before returning home in 2016. –Stripes
Yesterday, guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook armed with 60 Tomahawk cruise missiles anchored off of Syrian territorial waters, and has reportedly been „harassed” by low-flying Russian warplanes, which have buzzed the „Arleigh Burke” class warship at least four times according to CNN Turk.
It is claimed that the US Donald Cook-named destroyer left Cyprus ‘s Larnaca port and landed near Syrian territorial waters. It was claimed that the missile destroyer named „Arleigh Burke” class Donald Cook (DDG-75) reached Tallus 100 kilometers and had 60 Tomahawk fuses on board. –CNN Turk (translated)
A Navy source confirmed the deployment, saying that the guided-missile-destroyer had just completed a port call in Cyprus, while the Pentagon reportedly draws up plans for how to deal with the situation.
