US claims four Russian cruise missiles fell short of Syria, hit Iran

A still from Russian Defense Ministry video of the launch of Kalibr cruise missiles from Russian Navy ships in the Caspian Sea.

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On Wednesday, four Russian navy ships in the Caspian Sea launched a barrage of 26 cruise missiles against targets claiming to be "important militant facilities" of the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS). The missiles flew over northwest Iran and the Kurdish territory of Iraq before striking their targets in Syria, according to a Russian defense ministry spokesperson. However, according to US officials, four of the 26 missiles didn't make the full trip—instead falling in Iran. Both Russia and Iran deny that four missiles fell in Iran.

The strike was conducted with Kalibr 3M-14T cruise missiles (designated by NATO as the SS-N-30A). These inertial-guided, rocket-boosted turbofan cruise missiles have a range of up to 1,500 miles while carrying a 990-pound warhead. The missiles followed a flight path of over 700 miles before striking targets in Syria; Russian defense ministry officials claim they have an accuracy of within three meters.

The Kalibr missile—or more specifically, a nuclear variant being tested by Russia—is controversial, because it is believed by the Obama administration to violate the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, being capable of striking nearly anywhere in Europe if launched from the ground within Russia. Brought into service in 2012, the Kalibr and its export Klub variants are roughly on par with the US Navy's Tomahawk cruise missile, though the anti-ship variants may be more advanced in many ways—they are capable of a number of terminal maneuvers to defeat ships' defensive systems, including a supersonic dive.

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