Chechen forces loyal to the Kremlin are on the ground in Syria gathering military intelligence deep inside Daesh-controlled territory which the Russian air force is using to identify bombing targets, Russian state TV has said.
Chechen intelligence agents have also infiltrated the ranks of the militant group, according to Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, who said he had sent undercover agents to train alongside its fighters at the start of the Syrian war.
"According to Ramzan Kadyrov, an extensive spy network has been set up inside Daesh," said Russian state TV, whose coverage usually reflects the Kremlin line.
"The republic's (Chechnya's) best fighters were sent there. They are gathering information about the structure and the number of terrorists, and are identifying targets for bombing and documenting the bombing's results."
The assertions were contained in a teaser for a TV documentary to be broadcast on Wednesday on the state-controlled Russia 24 channel. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, declined to confirm the presence of Chechen forces in Syria.
Russia launched air strikes in Syria on September 30 and has set up an air base to complement an existing naval facility. It has infantry and armour there to protect its assets and has military trainers and advisers working with the Syrian army. |