Putin in threat to NUKE ISIS with submarine warheads if airstrikes fail to wipe out terror
RUSSIA’S Vladimir Putin has threatened to liquidate Islamic State jihadis with NUCLEAR WARHEADS if conventional bombing raids fail to destroy the terror group.
By TOM BATCHELOR
www.express.co.uk
As the Kremlin announced its first ever strikes against the fanatical Islamist network – also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh – from a submarine, the Russian president warned that his military’s cruise missiles could be fitted with atomic weapons.
During a televised meeting with defence minister Sergey Shoigu, Putin said: “We must analyse everything happening on the battlefield, how the weapons operate.
“The Kalibrs [cruise missiles fired from the sea] and KH-101 [cruise missile fired from jets] have proved to be modern and highly effective, and now we know it for sure – precision weapons that can be equipped with both conventional and special warheads, which are nuclear.”
But he added that launching a nuclear strike on ISIS in their Iraqi and Syrian heartlands would only be used as a last resort.
He said: “Naturally, this is not necessary when fighting terrorists and, I hope, will never be needed.”
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Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu
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Russia is stepping up its campaign to wipe out ISIS
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Russian navy ships have also launched cruise missiles at targets in Syria from the Caspian Sea
Russia unleashed another barrage of airstrikes against targets in Syria overnight, including the first launch of a new cruise missile from a Russian submarine in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Rostov-on-Don sub, described by Russia as the “quietest in the world”, was deployed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea near Cyprus.
Dubbed the ‘Black Hole’ by Nato because of its ability to move around undetected, the submarine is equipped with missiles similar to those used by the warships of Russia’s Caspian flotilla to strike ISIS targets.
The Kalibr cruise missiles successfully hit designated targets in Raqqa, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
The submarine was in a submerged position during the launch, he added.
He said the targets destroyed in the latest wave of Russian bombings included a munitions depot, a factory manufacturing mortar rounds and oil facilities belonging to “terrorists”.
Mr Shoigu said the Russian military had informed Israel and the United States about the submarine strikes before launching them.
Russia has carried out its air campaign in Syria since September 30, using warplanes at an air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia, as well as navy ships and long-range bombers flying from their bases in Russia.
While Moscow said its action has been focused on ISIS, the West has criticised Moscow for also striking moderate rebel groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad.