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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| Sources: Russian troops join war in Syria | |
| 2015-09-10 | |
| [Reuters] Russian forces have begun participating in military operations in support of government troops in Syria, three Lebanese sources said on Wednesday. The sources gave the most forthright account yet from the region, though one of the sources said the number of Russians involved so far was small. Two of the Lebanese sources said the Russians were establishing two bases in Syria, one near the coast and one further inland which would be a base of operations. He said, "The Russians are no longer just advisors. The Russians have decided to join the war against terrorism." US officials said Russia has recently sent two tank landing ships and additional cargo aircraft to Syria and deployed a small number of naval infantry forces. The officials said Russia's intent was not clear. One suggested the focus may be on preparing an airfield near the port city of Latakia, an Assad stronghold. The officials have not ruled out the possibility that Russia may want to use the airfield for air combat missions. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to his Russian counterpart for the second time in four days to express concern over such reports, warning that it could fan more violence. The White House said it was closely monitoring the situation. Russia has declined to comment on the scale and scope of its military presence. Damascus has denied Russians were involved in combat, but a Syrian official said the presence of experts had increased in the past year. Germany's foreign minister warned Russia against increased military intervention, saying the Iran nuclear deal and new UN initiatives offered a starting point for a political solution to the war.
The Russians have installed modular housing units -- enough for "hundreds" of people -- at the airport, as well as portable air traffic control equipment, the official noted. "All of this seems to be suggesting that Russia is planning to do some sort of forward air-operating hub out of this airfield," the official said. Bulgaria has refused permission for Russian aircraft to enter its airspace, and Greece said Tuesday that Washington had asked it to also deny Russian overflights. | |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #5 BYW does this mean "boots on the ground"? Yes. The first contingent includes engineers who are already preparing for the next contingent. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2015-09-10 19:55 |
| #4 Russia would put boots on the ground i reckon. Russia is morphing into a theocratic state under Putin. His power base is the Russian orthodox church. While the true enemy of Islamic state (and all religious nutbaggery) is secularism the Church comes second what with the crucifixion and beheading of Christians. Putin being the strongarm thug he is can be quite decisive. Being militaristic helps shore up his popularity among the ordinary russians whose economy has been stolen by that kleptocrat and his oligarch mates. it thus makes sense for Vlad the Impaler to go and take a swing. It would make him wildly popular. I would even be tempted to admire him stamping on that nasty IS. but the same what goes for china goes for him. it might be tempting to like it but the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend. we dont really want an emboldened russia or china into foreign interventions and territorial mergers and acquisitions |
| Posted by: anon1 2015-09-10 18:11 |
| #3 Pappy, it's a close call but Russia has wanted to be considered Euro since Peter the Great at least. Whether the Euros considered them as such was a different matter.. BYW does this mean "boots on the ground"? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2015-09-10 07:51 |
| #2 Russian is European? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-09-10 07:01 |
| #1 So, Russia the only European country that does something constructive re "Syrian refugee crisis"? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2015-09-10 04:25 |