Can operate nuclear bombers from Syrian air base says, Russia

Russia said on Tuesday it had the ability for the first time to operate long-range strategic nuclear-capable bombers from its airbase in Syria.

This would expand Russia’s capabilities and allow such planes to train in new regions.

The Russian defense ministry said in a statement that three Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range bombers had flown to the Hmeymim base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast,

Russia operates the Hmeymim base, from which it has launched airstrikes in the past in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

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It said runways at the base had been made longer and one of them upgraded allowing Russia to operate aircraft of all types from the base.

The three newly arrived bombers would hold training exercises in new geographical areas over the Mediterranean Sea, before returning to their permanent airfields in Russia, the defense ministry said.