Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy holds briefing for mass media on April 14, 2018.
Transcript:
Greetings.
On April 14, from 3.42 am till 5.10 am (Moscow time), the US and its allies conducted a missile strike by its air and naval carriers targeting military and civil facilities of the Syrian Arab Republic. The Russian air defence systems (AD) at the Khmeimim and Tartus air base timely located and controlled all naval and air launches made by the USA and the UK.
On April 14, from 3.42 am till 5.10 am (Moscow time), the US and its allies conducted a missile strike by its air and naval carriers targeting military and civil facilities of the Syrian Arab Republic. The Russian air defence systems (AD) at the Khmeimim and Tartus air base timely located and controlled all naval and air launches made by the USA and the UK.
Announced French aircraft have not been registered by the Russian air defence systems.
It is reported that the B-1B, F-15 and F-16 aircraft of the USAF as well as the Tornado airplanes of the UK RAF over the Mediterranean Sea, and the USS Laboon and USS Monterey located in the Red Sea were used during the operation. The B-1B strategic bombers approached the facilities over the Syrian territory near al-Tanf illegally seized by the USA to strike their targets. A number Syrian military airfields, industrial and research facilities suffered the missile-bomb strike.
According to our data, there are no civilian casualties nor losses among the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Information will be further specified and made public.
As made evident by the available data, 103 cruise missiles have been launched, including Tomahawk naval-based missiles as well as GBU-38 guided air bombs fired from the B-1B; the F-15 and F-16 aircraft launched air-to-surface missiles. The Tornado airplanes of the UK RAF launched eight Scalp EG missiles.
The Syrian air defence systems, which are primarily the USSR-made AD systems, have successfully countered the air and naval strikes. In total, 71 cruise missiles have been intercepted. The S-125, S-200, Buk, Kvadrat, and Osa Syrian AD systems were involved in repelling the attack.
It proves high efficiency of the Syrian armament and professional skills of the Syrian servicemen trained by the Russian specialists. Over the last eighteen months, Russia has completely recovered the Syrian air defence systems, and continues its development.
It is to be stressed that several years ago given the strong request by our western partners, Russia opted out of supplying the S-300 AD systems to Syria. Taking into account the recent incident, Russia believes it possible to reconsider this issue not only regarding Syria but other countries as well.
The strike targeted Syrian air bases as well. Russia has registered the following data.
Four missiles targeted the Damascus International Airport, and twelve targeted the Al-Dumayr airdrome; all the missiles have been intercepted.
Eighteen missiles targeted the Blai airdrome: all of them were intercepted.
Twelve missiles targeted the Shayrat air base, all of them were intercepted. Air bases were not affected by the strike.
Five out of nine missiles targeting the unoccupied Mazzeh airdrome were intercepted.
Thirteen out of sixteen missiles targeting the Homs airdrome were intercepted. There are no serious destructions.
In total, thirty missiles targeted facilities near Barzah and Jaramana. Seven of them have been intercepted. These facilities allegedly relating to the so-called “Damascus military chemical programme” were partially destroyed. However, the objects have not been used for a long time, so there were no people and equipment there.
The Russian air defence systems have been alerted. Fighter jets are on combat air patrol now.
There were no cruise missiles entering the Russian AD responsibility area. The Russian air defence systems were not used.
Russia considers the strike to be a response to the success of the Syrian Armed Forces in fighting international terrorism and liberating its territory, rather than a response to the alleged chemical attack.
Besides, the attack took place on a day when the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) special mission was to start working on investigating incident in the city of Douma where chemical attack allegedly occurred. It is to be stressed that there are no facilities on producing chemical weapons in Syria, and this has been documented by the OPCW.
The American aggression proves that the USA is not interested in objectivity of the ongoing investigation, seeks to wreck peaceful settlement in Syria and destabilize environment in the Middle East, and all these have nothing to do with declared objectives of countering international terrorism.
Currently the situation in Damascus and other settlements is assessed to be stable, as shown live on the TV screens [behind me]. The environment is being monitored.
Thank you for your attention.
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