Russia said to get Iran's clearance for Syria-bound flights

[webfact]

Russia said to get Iran's clearance for Syria-bound flights
LYNN BERRY, Associated Press
VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — Iran has granted permission for Russian planes to fly over its territory en route to Syria, Russian news agencies said Wednesday, a bypass needed after Bulgaria refused overflights amid signs of a Russian military buildup in Syria that has concerned the U.S. and NATO.

The news agencies quoted Maxim Suslov, spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Tehran, as saying it has received Iranian permission for Syria-bound flights. After Bulgaria rejected Moscow's overflight request for Sept. 1-24, a path via Iran and Iraq appeared to be the only one left, as Russia apparently sought to avoid flying over Turkey, which in 2012 grounded a Syria-bound plane carrying radar parts from Moscow.

There was no immediate confirmation from Iran.

The controversy over the Russian flights comes amid signs of increased Russian military presence in Syria. Moscow, which has backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nation's 4½-year civil war, said its military experts are in the country to train its military to use Russian weapons.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the West of creating "strange hysteria" over Russian activities in Syria, saying that Moscow has been openly supplying weapons and sending military specialists there for a long time.

"Russia has never made a secret of its military-technical cooperation with Syria," she said, adding she could "confirm and repeat once again that Russian military specialists are in Syria to help them master the weapons being supplied."

President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have sought to cast arms supplies to Assad's regime as part of international efforts to combat the Islamic State group and other militant organizations in Syria.

Putin hasn't ruled out a bigger role. Asked Friday if Russia could deploy its troops to Syria to help fight IS, he said "we are looking at various options."

By playing with the idea of joining the U.S.-led coalition fighting IS, Putin may hope to reset ties with the West, which have been shattered by the Ukrainian crisis, and also protect Moscow's influence in Syria, where it has a navy base. But the U.S. and its allies have seen Assad as the cause of the Syrian crisis, and Washington has warned Moscow against beefing up its presence.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday for a second time in five days. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Kerry "reiterated our concern about these reports of Russia military buildup," adding if they are true, it could lead "lead to greater violence and even more instability" in Syria.

Indicating a continuing rift, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Lavrov on the call emphasized Syrian government troops' role in confronting extremist groups and the need to take consolidated action.

On Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also said the alliance is concerned about reports about Russia's increased military presence in Syria. He didn't offer details.

A U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to publicly discuss the issue, said the U.S. has seen the Russians fly a variety of military assets into the airfield south of the Syrian city of Latakia, including troops capable of protecting Russian forces there and modular housing units. He said it indicated that the Russians are preparing for some sort of air operations. The official said he was unaware of any evidence that Russian forces have conducted any offensive military operations in Syria.

Another U.S. official briefed on the latest intelligence declined to confirm or deny whether Russian troops have participated in military operations in Syria. However, he said, U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Russia's deployment of military personnel and weapons to Syria reflect growing concern about Assad's ability to weather opposition gains — and it suggests that Moscow may be willing to intervene directly on Assad's behalf.

Russia's military involvement raises a number of concerns, the U.S. official said, especially because it does not appear to be coordinated with the other countries operating in the area. It is not clear what Russia intends to actually do, he said.

One Lebanese politician said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue that some Russian forces already have taken part in some small-scale operations in Syria, possibly paving way for broader military action against IS, including airstrikes, in the future. He provided no details, and other Lebanese politicians contested the claim, saying the Russians haven't joined the fray yet.

Another Lebanese politician familiar with the issue, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't in a position to publicly discuss the subject, said there are Russian experts and, possibly, pilots, in Syria, but no full-fledged fighting force yet.

"There are experts and there are also crews for advanced equipment," he said. "They have no fighting forces on the ground."

"Russia is a partner in the war," the politician added. "Russia from the beginning told several officials, including Lebanese, that defending Damascus is like defending Moscow. It will do what is needed."

Hisham Jaber, a retired Lebanese army general familiar with the Syrian military, also said Russian military experts have been in Syria for a long time.

"Every time Syria gets new weapons, Russian experts come to train them (Syrians) on these weapons," Jaber said. "Because of current situation in Syria, these experts need protection and special forces are in Syria to protect advanced weapons and to protect the Russian experts who train Syrians. There are plans to build a military air base in the coastal town of Jable."

Jaber said the Syrian coast is a "red line for the regime and the Russians," and it's threatened now after the fall of the northwestern town of Jisr al-Shughour earlier this year into the hands of al-Qaida fighters and their allies. Over the past weeks, militants have shelled the coastal city of Latakia. Jisr al-Shughour is only 50 kilometers (30 miles) away.

"The Russians will not allow the fall of the Syrian coast because of the naval base and the planned air base," Jaber said.

"Until this moment, there are no Russian forces fighting on the ground," he added. "There are experts everywhere, who sometimes give advice in operations rooms to Syrian forces."

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov criticized Washington for refusing to cooperate with the Syrian government in the fight against the IS.

"The basis for action of the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition is flawed, because it should at the very least involve cooperation with the countries on whose turf this battle is being fought," he said, according to Russian news agencies. "When our American colleagues manage to understand that there are global problems that can't be solved without Russia, we will be able to cooperate."
__

AP National Security Writer Robert Burns, AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee and AP Intelligence Writer Ken Dilanian in Washington, Zeina Karam and Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Elena Becatoros in Athens and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-10

[johna]

Congratulations to Russia for being the one of the few nation's to openly support Assad, The UK/US air strikes are a joke. David Cameron has called for Assad to be replaced within 6 months, but as usual all Brit plans in the region are being vetted by Netanyahu who is in London meeting Cameron at the moment.

[Loptr]

Bulgaria obviously had it's arm twisted to close their airspace to Russia for flights to Syria... Good to see that this ploy will not stop Russia's intervention into the western created nightmare unfolding in Syria and Iraq...

[craigt3365]

Bulgaria obviously had it's arm twisted to close their airspace to Russia for flights to Syria... Good to see that this ploy will not stop Russia's intervention into the western created nightmare unfolding in Syria and Iraq...

It is indeed a nightmare, but not fully the west's fault. Most of blame lies with Assad. Russia is just throwing more fuel on the fire just to make money. Congrats to Bulgaria for not allowing weapons to flow into Syria.

[ezzra]

Any words on how many Syrian refuges the Russian will take in? being the supporter of the Assad regime and

the protector of the Syrian people for many decades... or they are there just for business and to look after their

own agendas? Oh those Russians.....

[huahinjoe]

The number of wars, conflicts around the middle-east is increasingly growing as more nations scramble to fight/protect their allies, interests.

Its not going to be good given the fact the current migration crisis is also a bad sign about there is huge problems to solve.

I don't know where all this heading but the good old saying always stands firm:

"Hope for the best and prepare for the worst..."

History keep repeating itself and the long term lessons never learned, the greed, the ego always overcome the peace and prosperity and spread like cancer with the help of mass media and the widely presented liberal/progressive hypocrite ideologies are far from the reality on the ground.

There is a massive proxy war going on between the great powers its all about money, oil, gas, power, you name it. Nothing can be done until true patriotism prevail from the grass roots level of each nation which respect any race but protect the identity of a nation or any religion in a peaceful manner for decades to come, we all can hope common sense will overcome the current chaotic scenes...

[Loptr]

Bulgaria obviously had it's arm twisted to close their airspace to Russia for flights to Syria... Good to see that this ploy will not stop Russia's intervention into the western created nightmare unfolding in Syria and Iraq...

It is indeed a nightmare, but not fully the west's fault. Most of blame lies with Assad. Russia is just throwing more fuel on the fire just to make money. Congrats to Bulgaria for not allowing weapons to flow into Syria.

Perhaps I've missed something, but what lies has Assad told?

If you are referring to chemical weapons attacks on his own people, that has been debunked a long time ago... The chemical weapons used in Syria had US fingerprints all over them and a trail has been established that those WMD's flowed through Turkey to Syrian (CIA backed) rebels...

[bangon04]

"Asked Friday if Russia could deploy its troops to Syria to help fight IS, he said "we are looking at various options."

Maybe they can call on 10 years of Soviet expertise in Afghanistan to help them achieve their aims.....

[craigt3365]

Bulgaria obviously had it's arm twisted to close their airspace to Russia for flights to Syria... Good to see that this ploy will not stop Russia's intervention into the western created nightmare unfolding in Syria and Iraq...

It is indeed a nightmare, but not fully the west's fault. Most of blame lies with Assad. Russia is just throwing more fuel on the fire just to make money. Congrats to Bulgaria for not allowing weapons to flow into Syria.

Perhaps I've missed something, but what lies has Assad told?

If you are referring to chemical weapons attacks on his own people, that has been debunked a long time ago... The chemical weapons used in Syria had US fingerprints all over them and a trail has been established that those WMD's flowed through Turkey to Syrian (CIA backed) rebels...

I didn't say lies. He's been in charge for many years. The uprising started because of his draconian rule. Part of the Arab Spring. He went on the offensive and well...the rest is history with the general population suffering. He should have stepped down, but he's got Russia and Iran supporting him. Otherwise, he'd be gone and all this silliness would stop. Or, at least, it'd be like Libya!

As far as chemical weapons, they are to blame along with Russia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction

Syria's chemical weapons program began in the 1970s with weapons and training from Egypt and the Soviet Union, with production of chemical weapons in Syria beginning in the mid-1980s. In September 2013 Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention (formally acceding on 14 October), and agreed to the destruction of its weapons, to be supervised by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as required by the Convention. Syria had been one of a handful of states which had not ratified the Convention, and joined after international condemnation of the August 2013 Ghouta chemical attack, which Western states held the Syrian government responsible for (whilst Syria and Russia held the Syrian rebels of the Syrian civil war responsible). Prior to September 2013 Syria had not publicly admitted to possessing chemical weapons, although Western intelligence services believed it to hold a massive stockpile.^[13] In September 2013, French intelligence put the Syrian stockpile at 1,000 tonnes, including Yperite, VX and "several hundred tonnes of sarin".^[14] In October 2013, the OPCW found a total of 1,300 tons of chemical weapons.^[15] On 16 October 2013, the OPCW and the United Nations formally established a joint mission to oversee the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons program by mid-2014.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-22307705

Regardless of where Assad got the chemical weapons from, he used them against his own people. Terrible stuff. Hard to believe anybody would support him.

[Expat1]

Go Russia. About time. Lay on those S-400 and 500s, the new drones and a couple improved Akulas offshore. Also hire in your new PMC to do what Blackwater mercs do for the US. Pari passu.

[Muzarella]

Any words on how many Syrian refuges the Russian will take in? being the supporter of the Assad regime and

the protector of the Syrian people for many decades... or they are there just for business and to look after their

own agendas? Oh those Russians.....

Why Russia will take refugees? This big mess was caused by the US, UK, and France...and its are not friendly with Russia policies.

Edited September 10, 2015 by Muzarella

[Muzarella]

Good for Iran.

This big mess was caused by the US, UK, and France...and its are not friendly with Russia policies.

What rights have any country to get into religion problems in other countries? The US deposed a Sunni government in Irak in favor of the Shitas and Kurds, placing a puppet government that supported Iran. But, the Sunni population become US enemies to finally become ISIS, that is getting bigger recruiting Sunni Arabs and new followers around the world. Assad is Shita, friend of Iran and other Shita Arab governments. If ISIS get the power in Syria the next target will be Iran. Russia is a long time friend with Iran and Syria governments, and it is interested in keep those governments in place fighting its enemies. ISIS is the enemy in Syria, and may be in Iran soon. ISIS is not fighting openly in Irak and Afghanistan now, but will do it if getting more powerful, and probably its will, thanks to some colonialist and stupid Western countries.

Russia is the only hope now to defeat ISIS. If the US keep this stupid cold war on with Russia, and do not change for good, a big war is on the way.

Now, with all that mess in place, Western Christian countries are paying for the consequences getting millions of Islam refugees, and if somebody think that will be not a problem, it is wrong. Just wait.

Karma?

[h90]

Bulgaria obviously had it's arm twisted to close their airspace to Russia for flights to Syria... Good to see that this ploy will not stop Russia's intervention into the western created nightmare unfolding in Syria and Iraq...

It is indeed a nightmare, but not fully the west's fault. Most of blame lies with Assad. Russia is just throwing more fuel on the fire just to make money. Congrats to Bulgaria for not allowing weapons to flow into Syria.

You are one of the few supporter of ISIS....

[h90]

Good for Iran.

This big mess was caused by the US, UK, and France...and its are not friendly with Russia policies.

What rights have any country to get into religion problems in other countries? The US deposed a Sunni government in Irak in favor of the Shitas and Kurds, placing a puppet government that supported Iran. But, the Sunni population become US enemies to finally become ISIS, that is getting bigger recruiting Sunni Arabs and new followers around the world. Assad is Shita, friend of Iran and other Shita Arab governments. If ISIS get the power in Syria the next target will be Iran. Russia is a long time friend with Iran and Syria governments, and it is interested in keep those governments in place fighting its enemies. ISIS is the enemy in Syria, and may be in Iran soon. ISIS is not fighting openly in Irak and Afghanistan now, but will do it if getting more powerful, and probably its will, thanks to some colonialist and stupid Western countries.

Russia is the only hope now to defeat ISIS. If the US keep this stupid cold war on with Russia, and do not change for good, a big war is on the way.

Now, with all that mess in place, Western Christian countries are paying for the consequences getting millions of Islam refugees, and if somebody think that will be not a problem, it is wrong. Just wait.

Karma?

Assad is Alewite very modern. also his wife is modern, doesn't cover her hair or face.....

USA created the Mujahideen and called them freedom fighters and couldn't control them later on. Than they supported the ISIS to get rid of Assad and could not control them and now they talk of supporting the Al-Kaida to fight the ISIS......Every other country would called Terrorist if doing such.

[h90]

Bulgaria obviously had it's arm twisted to close their airspace to Russia for flights to Syria... Good to see that this ploy will not stop Russia's intervention into the western created nightmare unfolding in Syria and Iraq...

It is indeed a nightmare, but not fully the west's fault. Most of blame lies with Assad. Russia is just throwing more fuel on the fire just to make money. Congrats to Bulgaria for not allowing weapons to flow into Syria.

Perhaps I've missed something, but what lies has Assad told?

If you are referring to chemical weapons attacks on his own people, that has been debunked a long time ago... The chemical weapons used in Syria had US fingerprints all over them and a trail has been established that those WMD's flowed through Turkey to Syrian (CIA backed) rebels...

And the complains came from the only country who ever used nuclear weapons against civilians.....

[craigt3365]

Bulgaria obviously had it's arm twisted to close their airspace to Russia for flights to Syria... Good to see that this ploy will not stop Russia's intervention into the western created nightmare unfolding in Syria and Iraq...

It is indeed a nightmare, but not fully the west's fault. Most of blame lies with Assad. Russia is just throwing more fuel on the fire just to make money. Congrats to Bulgaria for not allowing weapons to flow into Syria.

You are one of the few supporter of ISIS....

Be nice. Russsia may be attempting to battle ISIS now (and that's yet to be understood if or why), but in the most recent past, it's been supporting the Assad regime in their battle against the Syrian rebels trying to topple Assad. It's all abotu money.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia's_role_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War

Russia has been shipping large amounts of weapons to Bashar al-Assad, with one ship loaded with "dangerous cargo" notably having to stop in Cyprus due to stormy weather on 10 January 2012.^[35] Russia's current contracts with Syria for arms are estimated to be worth 1.5 billion US dollars, comprising 10% of Russia's global arms sales.^[35]

Maybe Putin better take care of his own backyard first:

http://www.ibtimes.com/how-russian-militants-declared-new-isis-state-russias-north-caucasus-1984613

[Mumpel]

Russian transport aircraft flew over Bulgaria to Syria, despite the ban

[bartender100]

We are heading for conflict with Russia

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34205003

[Mumpel]

US State Department couldnt confirm their allegation about buid-up of Russian forces in Syria:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2015/09/246722.htm#SYRIA

[h90]

It is indeed a nightmare, but not fully the west's fault. Most of blame lies with Assad. Russia is just throwing more fuel on the fire just to make money. Congrats to Bulgaria for not allowing weapons to flow into Syria.

You are one of the few supporter of ISIS....

Be nice. Russsia may be attempting to battle ISIS now (and that's yet to be understood if or why), but in the most recent past, it's been supporting the Assad regime in their battle against the Syrian rebels trying to topple Assad. It's all abotu money.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia's_role_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War

Russia has been shipping large amounts of weapons to Bashar al-Assad, with one ship loaded with "dangerous cargo" notably having to stop in Cyprus due to stormy weather on 10 January 2012.^[35] Russia's current contracts with Syria for arms are estimated to be worth 1.5 billion US dollars, comprising 10% of Russia's global arms sales.^[35]

Maybe Putin better take care of his own backyard first:

http://www.ibtimes.com/how-russian-militants-declared-new-isis-state-russias-north-caucasus-1984613

Of course battle against rebels that try to topple Assad. After Assad is gone there will be chaos and Islamists. There are no liberal rebels that would make a democratic government instad of Assad. It is Assad or Islamists. I as Atheist would be able to live free in Assads Syria, but would be beheaded from any other groups.

[anon4546543]

I just hope all the weapons specialts and advisers Russia is supplying to Syria are coming out of Ukraine. But I suspect not

[hawksway]

When will the West learn that replacing Middle East Dictators with democratic institutions only creates chaos and instability?

The Region needed Sadaam Hussain and Gaddafi and their fall has created dangerous power vacuums, a rise in competing terror groups. and the largest mass exodus of Refugees since the partition of India.

What an absolute mess and Russia is alone in facing up to reality in supporting the Assad regime in Syria while protecting its interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Nato's failure to push back the progress of ISIL and other terror groups is the result of its hands being tied by the varying concerns of its Members. Nato will always have these problems except in the narrowest of objectives. In respect of Syria Nato, has no unity of purpose and the certain Nato Members will have to pursue their aims by forming alliances - often clandestine and outside of Nato and the United Nations where Russia is a member of the Security Council.

Western analysts must know that the choices are between Russia and Iran to save the Assad Government. At all costs Syria must not fall.

[khunken]

Western (& Saudi/Qatar) support for the so-called 'good' rebels in Syria has been disastrous. IS & AlQaeda have fought them and the government and captured weapons & territory from both. Surely the NATO countries liars have realised by now that their stupid alliance with the rebels in Libya led to a failed state with the refugee floodgates being opened to Italy as well as the defeat of the 'good' rebels by various warlord-type groups allied to IS or Al-Q.

Only the threat of a Russian (& Chinese) veto prevented Syria going the same way as Libya. Syria is in a mess but could have been in a far worse mess with a mass exidous of all the Christian, Alawite, Shia & Druze from an IS pogrom.

What a tangled web it is with enemies of enemies not becoming friends but yet more enemies.

Edited September 10, 2015 by khunken

[Chicog]

Good for Iran.

This big mess was caused by the US, UK, and France...and its are not friendly with Russia policies.

Actually I'd say this mess was caused by the Tunisian people, who showed the Arab world that you could rise up against dictatorship and win.

Unfortunately that wasn't true for everyone.

However, Assad has managed to murder more of his people than his dad, which is going some, so I really wouldn't be too worried if he got double-tapped in his sleep.

Had Russia and China (no-one is particularly frightened of Iran) not supported Assad, he may well have been swept away and a stable Sunni government installed.

But of course that is all moot now.

Killing Assad won't help anyone.

I'd go as far as to suggest that the only thing that might end the carnage is an alliance between Assad's army and moderate Syrian rebels - which is tantamount to a US/Russian alliance anyway.

[craigt3365]

When will the West learn that replacing Middle East Dictators with democratic institutions only creates chaos and instability?

The Region needed Sadaam Hussain and Gaddafi and their fall has created dangerous power vacuums, a rise in competing terror groups. and the largest mass exodus of Refugees since the partition of India.

What an absolute mess and Russia is alone in facing up to reality in supporting the Assad regime in Syria while protecting its interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Nato's failure to push back the progress of ISIL and other terror groups is the result of its hands being tied by the varying concerns of its Members. Nato will always have these problems except in the narrowest of objectives. In respect of Syria Nato, has no unity of purpose and the certain Nato Members will have to pursue their aims by forming alliances - often clandestine and outside of Nato and the United Nations where Russia is a member of the Security Council.

Western analysts must know that the choices are between Russia and Iran to save the Assad Government. At all costs Syria must not fall.

Easy to say as you don't live there. Your feelings might be different as a religious minority there. Or, even as a resident of one of the hard hit towns. ISIL wasn't there when this all started. ISIL likes power vacuums like this. So yes, one way or another, it needs to get resolved. To everybody's benefit.

Russia alone facing up to reality? You think there's no money involved???? Conflict creates profits for somebody. In this case, Russia.