The Pentagon claims that maneuvers of the American fleet in the Mediterranean are not associated with Russia’s military presence in Syria.
Photo: EPA / YONHAP
The Pentagon asks not to link deployment of two US assault landing ships in the Mediterranean with presence of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria, the TASS news agency reported, citing a representative of the US Department of Defense.
According to the spokesman for the Pentagon, Russia’s military presence in the Syrian Arab Republic and maneuvers of the American fleet in the Mediterranean are not associated with each other things.
The US Department of Defense said that the Wasp and Whidbey Island ships left their bases in Virginia and North Carolina and set a course for the Mediterranean Sea “within a framework of a pre-planned deployment.”
The representative of the Pentagon refused to answer the question of whether American ships will stationed in the vicinity of Russian ones, and whether the air power will be involved, citing a lack of authority.
The day before, the Wasp and Whidbey Island ships of the US Navy entered the Mediterranean Sea. Reportedly, there are about 4,000 marines, several AV-8B Harrier aircraft, the MV-22 Osprey support aircraft and several types of helicopters on the boards of the vessels. According to the US Navy, the ships will stay in the Mediterranean for about three months. Combat tasks of the vessels have not been announced. It was only reported that the group will maintain security operations at the sea and efforts, aimed to maintain cooperation in this area of warfare.