Russia Puts Its Military Operations In Syria, Global Power On Display

By The Associated Press
Posted: 10/22/15, 12:36 PM EDT | Updated: 2 hrs ago

HEMEIMEEM AIR BASE, Syria >> Russian fighter jets streak into the sky from this base in western Syria for yet another day of the heavy bombing runs that have allowed Moscow to portray itself as a major global player, projecting military power far from its borders.

While support crews attached a missile to an Su-30 jet for a mission Thursday, helicopter gunships buzzed around the base to make sure there was no threat of a ground attack.

Russia has been conducting daily airstrikes in Syria since Sept. 30 to back a government offensive by its longtime ally. Moscow says it is targeting militants, especially from the Islamic State group and other extremists. The United States and others have criticized the strikes, which they say are aimed primarily at groups fighting Assad’s forces and likely only to fan the violence.

The Russian Defense Ministry flew Moscow-based reporters to the air base early Thursday, giving a few international news organizations their first inside look at its operations here.

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