4 Russian Cruise Missiles Crash in Iran En Route to Syria

— -- At least four cruise missiles fired from Russian navy ships in the Caspian Sea towards Syria Wednesday crashed in northwestern parts of Iran according to U.S. officials.

Regional press reports in northwestern Iran referred to the crash of “unidentified flying objects.”

On Wednesday, Russia fired 26 cruise missiles at what it said were ISIS targets in Syria, assisting a ground offensive launched by the Syrian military in central western Syria.

U.S. officials said that it was unclear if the Russian missiles caused any damage or casualties as they crashed in Iranian territory.

A video released by the Russian Defense Ministry of the missile launches also included an animation detailing the trajectory the missiles took flying over northwestern Iran and northern Iraq en route to their targets in Syria.

Little noticed regional press reports on Wednesday mentioned an “unidentified flying object” that had crashed near the town of Takab close to the border with Iraq. A report in Oyan News cited the governor of Takab describing the crash of a “drone” near the village of Qiz Qapan in the early morning hours.

Images posted by Oyan News on Thursday in several structures in the village which matched initial descriptions provided by witnesses.

Wednesday’s launch marked the first use of Russian cruise missiles in combat.

A U.S. official told ABC News that their use in Syria was probably intended to demonstrate Russia’s military capabilities. The official noted that other weapons available to the Russian military already in Syria carried more firepower than that aboard the cruise missiles.