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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Russia sends tanks, artillery to Syria: US official
2015-09-15
[AlAhram] Russia has sent artillery and seven tanks to a Syrian air base as part of Moscow's continued military buildup in the war-ravaged nation, a US official said Monday.
But don't worry, Jahwn Kerry is concerned and Samantha Powers is wringing her hands most earnestly...
The increase of Russian hardware in Syria has caused concerns in the West about the implications of Moscow militarily helping its old ally, Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Oppressor of the Syrians and the Lebs...
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the US official told AFP the seven T-90 tanks arrived in recent days but had not been sent outside the airbase near Latakia, on Syria's Mediterranean coast.
Russian tanks -- great for putting down civilians, not so great for putting down Israelis...
And the artillery, which arrived last week, appears to have been sent there to protect the facility. There was no indication Russia had sent fighter jets or helicopter gunships to Syria.

"It appears, and all the indications are pointing, that (the artillery is) for airfield defense," the official said.

Russian help for Assad could seriously complicate the US-led coalition's air strikes against Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
 jihadists in Syria and defense officials are worried about the possibility of accidents if coalition and Russian planes operate in the same airspace.

Two Russian transport planes, purportedly carrying guns and ammo humanitarian aid, landed in Syria on Saturday, Russian state media said, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week said Moscow was sending military equipment along with aid "in accordance with current contracts."

At a news briefing, Pentagon front man Captain Jeff Davis said Russia apparently was establishing a forward air operations base in Latakia.

"It's been a continued steady flow (of equipment) for the last week and a half or so," he said.
Thanks Jeff. Over to you, Jahwn and Susie...
AFP reported last week that dozens of Russian naval infantry had arrived in Syria, along with two tank-landing ships and about a dozen Russian armored personnel carriers.

American officials also say Russia has installed modular housing units -- enough for "hundreds" of people.

Russia is a staunch ally of the regime in Damascus and maintains a naval facility in Tartus province.

"We would welcome Russian contributions to the overall global effort against (the IS group) but things that continue to support the Assad regime, particularly military things, are unhelpful and risk adding greater instability to an already unstable situation," Davis said.
Jahwn and Susie made you say that, right Jeff?
Posted by:trailing wife

#8  So, the US has been putting hardware in allies back yards for years. Maybe the russians will help rid of the bigger enemy which is not assad
Posted by: chris   2015-09-15 16:22  

#7  Tanks emplaced in static, defensive positions not supported by infantry are little more than inviting targets. If an enemy is advancing on you and is within 3-4km [main gun range], you have other problems.

Russian tank theater, little more.
Posted by: Besoeker   2015-09-15 14:25  

#6  If I was the CIA, I would pay a Syrian to launch a TOW at one of those T-90s to see if it actually stopped it.
Posted by: DarthVader   2015-09-15 14:10  

#5  
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy   2015-09-15 13:52  

#4  Why is anyone surprised when they put people in charge who only think all the problems in the world are the result of actions by America. See - anti-Western Civ, anti-American Marxist.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2015-09-15 08:40  

#3  
Posted by: Tiny Snins1607   2015-09-15 07:49  

#2  Betcha these tanks won't end up as ISIS boom mobiles.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2015-09-15 05:57  

#1  By these actions RUSSIA IS SEEMINGLY IGNORING US DEMANDS TO CEASE-N-DESIST = IGNORING OBAMA'S "RED LINES" ... ... ... ... ... AGAIN???

Lest we fergit, GROONG > [Iraqir] RUSSIA IS BUILDING ITS "UNDERBELLY" [Sphere of Influence?].

Crimea, Arctic, Eastern Europe, Syria + ME.

* YAHOO NEWS > RUSSIA FLIGHTS OVER IRAQ AND IRAN ESCALATE TENSIONS WID US.

See the Above.

See the Below.

* PRAVDA > GERMANY [+ EU?] MAY SOON RECOGNIZE DONETSK AND LUHANSK REPUBLICS, separatist regions from Ukraine.

* LUCIANNE > [Canada Free Press] OBAMA IS HANDING CALIPHATE ON A [Silver?]PLATE TO ISLAMIC TERRORISTS.

* WORLD NEWS > RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINSTER [Lavrov]: US KNOWS ISIS POSITIONS IN SYRIA, BUT REFUSES TO BOMB THEM.

Russian Foreign Ministry El Supremo Sergei Lavrov.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2015-09-15 01:33  

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