DAMASCUS, Syria — Russian warships in the Caspian Sea fired cruise missiles as Syrian government troops launched a ground offensive Wednesday in central Syria, in the first major combined air-and-ground assault since Moscow began its military campaign in the country last week.
The missiles, launched from a Russian flotilla in the Caspian Sea, traveled 900 miles over "unpopulated areas" to target militants, according to a Russian officer.
Moscow has mainly targeted central and northwestern Syria, strategic regions that are the gateway to President Bashar Assad's strongholds in Damascus, and along the Mediterranean coast.
According to the Syrian official, the government push is concentrated in the adjacent provinces of Hama and Idlib where rebels have been advancing in the past months. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
The Islamic State group is not present in the areas where the fighting is underway.
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