US: No decline in Russian military strength in Syria
US military spokesman says Moscow still has special forces, troops, fighter jets and artillery stationed in country
Baghdad: Russia’s military strength in Syria has barely changed since President Vladimir Putin announced a partial withdrawal from the war-torn country in March, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
“Their capabilities are largely the same, or almost identical, frankly,” Baghdad-based military spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said.
“They continue to have air power there, they continue to have ground forces, they continue to have artillery. They still have Spetsnaz [special forces] providing advice and assistance to the Syrian regime.”
Putin surprised the West in March when he ordered the “main part” of his forces to pull out of Syria, where Moscow has been conducting a bombing campaign to back up ally President Bashar A Assad.
Read More At: http://gulfnews.com/news/mena/syria/us-no-decline-in-russian-military-strength-in-syria-1.1830885
In the end, no significant drawdown happened per when it was announced.
Maybe this was announced at home for economic reasons, so much contradictory info comes out as this morning, the Russians were talking about joint action with the US in Syria
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Russia-proposes-joint-Syria-airstrikes-with-US-led-coalition-from-May-25/articleshow/52363860.cms . At the same time, some judge in Russia compared Obama to Hitler
http://www.rferl.org/content/article/27746468.html . So, always a lot of news.
