The Russian and Syrian military conducted joint exercises to protect the port of Tartus, where the Russian naval base is located, from a band of saboteurs, the head of the Tartus station Vyacheslav Rodionov reports.
"A joint tactical exercise of the SAR Navy and the Russian Navy was held, and issues of universal defense of the Tartus base were worked out during the joint tactical exercise. All the goals of the planned exercise have been achieved, the SAR Navy and the Russian Navy are ready to protect and defend the Tartus sea base,"he said.
According to the legend of the exercise, four saboteurs-divers tried to set an improvised explosive device on the bottom. The Russian anti-sabotage boat Raptor arrived at the place where they could be located.
The Russian and Syrian military destroyed two saboteurs, and two more tried to escape. Russian combat swimmers plunged from the boat into the waters of the Mediterranean sea following them. The saboteurs were caught and taken to the coast, where the Russian military police were waiting for them.
Saboteurs-divers, as RIA Novosti writes, acted together with a group of violators who were trying to get on a fast boat to the naval base. They didn't get away, either. Another boat, the Kinel, came to the aid of the Raptor, and together they pinned down the intruders and brought them to shore.
The fairway for the two boats was cleared by one of the newest Russian minesweepers, the Ivan Antonov. Its crew discovered several underwater floating mines and destroyed them - some with an overhead charge, and others with targeted fire.
"Our demolition team operates on a boat, usually it is done on a rowing boat ... the ship is new, accordingly, it is already equipped with boats, and not lifeboats, as the old ships ... Experience, this is the most important thing – the success of mine detonation depends on the team's performance, there are many nuances here – the sea waves, the training of personnel, first of all, the training of personnel," said the engineer of the minesweeper Danil Remezov.
Minesweepers and missile boats of the Syrian Navy also took part in the exercise.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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