Three Russian warships crossed Turkey's Bosphorus Strait on Thursday en route to the eastern Mediterranean, near the Syrian coast, Reuters reported. Russians say they are concerned about potential US-led strikes in response to the Damascus regime's alleged use of chemical weapons, and are seeking to block their intentions.
The SSV-201 intelligence ship Priazovye, accompanied by the two landing ships Minsk and Novocherkassk, passed through the Bosphorus, known as the Istanbul strait that separates Asia from Europe.
Russia has kept a constant presence of around four warships in the eastern Mediterranean in the Syrian crisis, Reuters reported
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that any US Congress approval for a military strike against Syria without UN consensus would represent an "aggression."
