TWO Russian submarines have reportedly ‘hunted’ Royal Navy subs and a number of other vessels in the Mediterranean for days as tensions between the countries rise following Allied airstrikes in Syria.
Sources have told The Times of London the Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine is believed to have been stalked by at least one but possibly two Russian Kilo-class subs — dubbed “the Black Hole” because they are so quiet and hard to track.
Two Russian frigates and an anti-submarine aircraft are also thought to have joined the hunt.
The £1.2billion Astute-class boat is believed to have spent several days playing the kind of dangerous and tense game of hide-and-seek which characterised the Royal Navy’s Cold War activity according to The Sun.
Strikes by UK, US and French forces crippled President Bashar al-Assad’s weapons programme overnight yesterday.
The allies launched 105 missiles in retaliation for a poison gas atrocity in Syria that killed at least 70 people.
wo of four RAF Tornados prepare to take-off from at Britain Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri, Cyprus Credit: Cpl Matthews/MoD
Three chemical weapons facilities, including a research and development in Damascus’ Barzeh district and two facilities near Homs were wiped out in the attack.
Donald Trump called the operation a success in a morning Twitter post and proclaimed: “Mission accomplished.”
And the US later said it was “locked and loaded” to attack again should the need arise.
Theresa May, too, has not ruled out fresh action if Assad’s barbaric regime continues to attack its own people.
Mrs May insisted the decision to deploy British cruise missiles in response to the chemical attack in Douma was “both right and legal”.
