by WorldTribune Staff, November 9, 2016

Warplanes from Russia’s lone active aircraft carrier will soon begin airstrikes on the Syrian city of Aleppo, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Nov. 8.

Jets from the Admiral Kuznetsov, which has been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, will target rebel positions on the outskirts of Aleppo, where the rebels have launched a counter offensive against the Syrian government-controlled western part of the city, the ministry said.

“The attacks are to hit the long-range approaches to the city,” Interfax news agency quoted a Defense Ministry spokesman as saying.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is escorted by several other battleships, including frigates capable of launching precision cruise missile strikes, the ministry said.

Russia and Syria claim to have abided by a moratorium on airstrikes in Aleppo since Oct. 18 but they have continued to carry out bombing raids on the outskirts of the city and other parts of the country.

Russia and Syria have also announced several unilateral “humanitarian ceasefires” to allow trapped civilians and rebel fighters to leave eastern Aleppo, but few if any have withdrawn, reports say.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army and its Hizbullah allies are advancing on the southwestern corridor of Aleppo, reportedly capturing large areas of territory from the rebels.

  Admiral Kuznetsov, Aleppo, Russian jets to launch airstrikes in Syria from aircraft carrier, WorldTribune.com