Russia Sends More Warships Toward Syria Following U.S. Tomahawk Strikes



A Russian Navy surface action group is headed to the Eastern Mediterranean departing shortly after a U.S. Tomahawk missile strike on a Syrian airfield, a U.S. defense official told USNI News on Monday.
Two Steregushchiy-class corvettes, an ocean tug and a fleet oiler departed from the naval base in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on Saturday bound for the Eastern Mediterranean and likely Syria, the official told USNI News.
The ships from the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet are set to arrive in the next several days off the coast of Syria.
The Russian SAG will join the guided missile frigate Admiral Grigorovich that sortied from the Black Sea on Friday after a nine-day resupply period.


Steregushchiy-class corvettes are among the more modern Russian ships – constructed in the early 2000s — with some versions of the ship capable of fielding the Russian Kalibir NK long range land attack cruise missiles. The Russians have used the weapon – with similar ranges of U.S. Tomahawks – as part of combined Russian and al-Assad loyal forces campaign against rebels in Aleppo fired from Admiral Grigorovich.
The 2,200-ton guided missile corvettes are, “designed for operations in adjacent maritime zones, fighting enemy surface ships and submarines, as well as to provide naval gunfire support for amphibious landings,” according to a U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence report.
The both the SAG and Admiral Grigorovich left their homeports shortly after U.S. guided missile destroyers USS Ross (DDG-71) and USS Porter (DDG-78) launched 59 Tomahawk missiles targeting the al-Shayrat airfield, the alleged base from which Syrian Su-22s conducted an April 4 chemical weapon strike against civilians Khan Sheikhoun. The U.S. determined the strike was conducted by forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.








The United States of America could soon be taking North Korea to war. Kim Jung-Un, the tyrant from N. Korea, has pushed too many buttons and warranted a response from the Trump administration.
The USA deployed a Navy strike group to the region and Kim’s regime is lashing out at the move by the US calling it ‘reckless moves for invading.’ Only time will tell how it plays out, below are the links used in the report above.











China's top nuclear envoy arrived in Seoul on Monday to discuss the growing threats from North Korea's missile and nuclear capabilities. 
Wu Dawei landed at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, for a four- or five-day trip. Upon arrival, he didn't respond to reporters asking for comments, only saying, "Thank you."

   He is scheduled to hold talks with his South Korean counterpart Kim Hong-kyun in the afternoon followed by a meeting over dinner. They last met in Beijing in December.
The Seoul meeting is also expected to provide a chance for the Seoul government to listen to China's take on the outcome of the recent summit talks between the United States and China, the decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy a Terminal High Attitude Area Defense system in South Korea and concerns over North Korea's possible additional provocations, among other things.
Tensions are running high amid speculation that the North might carry out an additional nuclear test or a long-range missile launch this month, which experts say is filled with big events for Pyongyang to celebrate.
During his stay, Wu also plans to meet major presidential candidates or their campaign officials to exchange views on key diplomatic issues concerning the two countries ahead of the May 9 election. 










North Korea will “in a matter of time” have an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear weapon capable of reaching the United States; but as matters stand now, American defenses would destroy it before it reached its target.
Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C. , think tank, Sen. Dan Sullivan, (R-Alaska), said that is not enough and is worrisome. “We see that train coming,” he said. One day, “Kim Jung-un can press a button and hit Chicago.”

The urgency for missile defense is compounded by Pyongyang’s history of selling its weapons expertise to other nations to raise money for its operations, he said in answer to an audience question.
In his Friday address, Sullivan said he and a number of Republican and Democratic senators will soon introduce a bill to step up missile defense spending. “You’ll see a lot of bipartisan support for missile defense” with the threat growing from North Korea and evolving threat from China and Russia with their advanced cruise missiles and hypervelocity weapons.
To the immediate point of deterring Pyongyang, he said the idea is to convince the North Koreans:
“If you try this, we have the ability to shoot down, one, two, three, four of your missiles,” and then “we will massively, massively, massively retaliate,” he said