US concerned about Russian build-up in Syria
Dow Jones newswires 27 min ago
Politics International News Europe USA
Russian forces have moved new personnel, planes and equipment into Syria in recent days, raising concerns that Moscow is moving to establish a new military base to aid embattled President Bashar al-Assad, US military officials said on Tuesday.
While Russia has long had a military presence in Syria, US military officials expressed increasing worry that the latest influx of support from Moscow is an effort to step up its support for the Syrian leader.
"You see all the indications that they are getting ready to establish a major air operations hub," a senior US military official said.
Over the weekend, Russian passenger and cargo planes flew into an air base south of the Syrian port city of Latakia, according to US military officials. The flights follow the addition of prefabricated housing units at the base that suggest Russia is preparing to dispatch hundreds of personnel to Syria, they said.
Reports about Russia's moves led to a weekend call from Secretary of State John Kerry to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country has provided Syria with military support for decades.
"We already provide pretty serious support and equipment to Syria, with military training and weaponry," he said. "We have major contracts that were concluded five or seven years ago, and that we are delivering completely. So we're considering various options, but at the moment...[direct military involvement is] still not on the agenda."
US officials are uncertain of Russia's intentions. Some military officials said Russia could be laying the groundwork for a new effort to help Mr Assad by launching airstrikes against Islamic State militants. Others said it could be part of Moscow's efforts to defend its own interests in Syria, where it operates a naval base in Tartus, about 50 miles south of Latakia.
"What's the true objective here?" said a second US military official. "Is the true objective to keep Assad in power, or to put in another crony? Are they looking to supply more munitions, arms and hardware for Syria, Hezbollah and [Iran's] Quds Force? I don't know."
Nikolai Fedoryak, the Russian senator who is deputy head of the Federation Council's defense and security committee, said Wednesday that Russian forces weren't taking active part in the Syrian conflict.
"The deployment of Russian armed forces abroad is possible only after a decision by the upper chamber of parliament, in response to a request from the head of the government," Mr Fedoryak said, according to the state news agency Interfax. "We haven't made such a decision."
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2015/9/9/europe/us-concerned-about-russian-build-syria
