British submarine chased by Russia just before Syria attack?

Russian submarines are believed to have chased British submarines ahead of air strikes on Syria in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to the British newspaper Express, British submarine crews felt they were being forced into a deadly "cat and mouse game" when they were pursued by two Russian Kilo-class submarines, supported by two frigates and an anti-submarine aircraft, in the Mediterranean Sea, just before the US-UK-France coalition launched airstrikes on Syria.
The British submarine being pursued was an Astute-class nuclear submarine. Russian forces reportedly followed the British submarine for several days as it entered the strike range of Syria. The British submarine spent several days trying to avoid being tailed by the Russians.

The US Navy then deployed a P-8A Poseidon multi-role patrol aircraft to track the Russian submarine and protect its allies. The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on this information.

The British submarine is said to have spent days trying to shake off the Russian submarine.

Kilo-class submarines are among the most dangerous in Putin's arsenal.

Russia's Project 636 Varshavyanka (Kilo-class) submarine can carry many torpedoes and cruise missiles, and is assessed by the British military as a "significant threat".

Meanwhile, the Astute class is Britain's latest nuclear attack submarine project, designed to carry out offshore attack missions.

Although the Russian and British navies regularly shadow each other in the Mediterranean, this is the first public chase between submarines from the two countries, and comes amid heightened tensions between Moscow and London.

On April 14, the US, UK and France fired 103 missiles at facilities in Syria in response to accusations that Syria used chemical weapons against civilians earlier this month.

Russia, Syria and Iran have condemned the US action, but a draft resolution condemning the attack presented by Russia to the UN Security Council was rejected.