Russia's aircraft carrier has started launching sorties over Syria
The US Naval Institute News' Sam LaGrone reports that armed fighters have flown from Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean.
As of yet, no strikes have been carried out. Only scouting missions involving the Su-33s and MiG-29Ks have gone forward, according to Lagrone.
While the Kuznetsov and attack planes on board add little to Russia's capabilities in the region, the US has nonetheless condemned Russia escalating a conflict where humanitarian catastrophes and possibly war crimes go on with some regularity.
"We are aware of reports that the Russian Federation is preparing to escalate their military campaign in Syria. The United States, time and again, has worked to try and de-escalate the violence in Syria and provide humanitarian aid to civilians suffering under siege," a Pentagon statement provided to USNI News on Wednesday read.
Russia's deployment of the troubled, Soveit-era Kuznetsov to Syria serves little military purpose, and likely deployed for propaganda purposes.