Russia beefs up air group in Syria with advanced fighters
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The Russian military says it has beefed up its air group in Syria with state-of-the art fighter jets.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov says Su-35 fighters have been deployed to Hemeimeem air base in Syria. Konashenkov on Monday didn't say how many Su-35s had been sent to Syria, but Russian media reported that there were four.
Russian warplanes have flown about 6,000 missions in four months.
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Konashenkov said all Russian strike aircraft are being accompanied by Russian or Syrian fighter jets.
Russia added fighter escorts after a Turkish fighter jet downed a Russian bomber at the border with Syria on Nov. 24. Russia has vowed to fend off any future threats to its warplanes with fighters and long-range air defense missiles at Hemeimeem.