Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, said measures are in place to strengthen Syrian air defenses which will help “protect the most sensitive Syrian infrastructure facilities.”
This comes hours after the United States launched 59 Tomahawk missiles airstrikes on the Syrian military air base on Friday, as retaliation for Bashar al-Assad regime using chemical weapon against civilians in the town of Khan Sheikhoun earlier this week.
Konashenkov said “the combat efficiency of the U.S. strike was very low,” adding that only 23 of the 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles reached the Shayrat air base in the province of Homs.
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According to him, the strike destroyed six MiG-23 fighter jets of the Syrian air force which were under repairs, but didn’t damage other Syrian warplanes at the base.
Konashenkov added that the base’s runway also has been left undamaged.
U.S President, Donald Trump said Friday that the attack is ‘vital to national security’, adding that, no ‘child of God should ever suffer’ the kind of horror,’ the Assad regime carried out on its own citizens.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin has described the attack as an act of aggression and a violation of international law.