Russian troops already in Syria, Israel says

[webfact]

Russian troops already in Syria, Israel says
By JOSEF FEDERMAN and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

NEW YORK (AP): -- Russia has been sending military forces into Syria in recent days, Israel's defense chief announced Thursday, as Moscow hinted at broader action to bolster President Bashar Assad's embattled army following a string of battlefield losses.

The increased Russian activity in Syria reflects Moscow's deep concerns that its longtime ally is on the brink of collapse, as well as hopes by President Vladimir Putin that a common battle against Islamic State extremists can improve Russia's ties with the West, strained over Ukraine.

But the strategy could be risky — and unless Russia sends large numbers of troops, halting the territorial gains made by Islamic militants could prove tough.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told reporters Thursday that the Russian buildup appears to be limited for the time being. He said military advisers, technicians and security guards have arrived in recent days, with the main goal of setting up an air base near the coastal town of Latakia that could be used to stage strikes on Islamic State fighters.

"As far as we understand, at this stage we are talking about a limited force that includes advisers, a security team and preparations for operating planes and combat helicopters," Yaalon said. He called the move "significant."

The claim was the latest indication of a Russian military buildup in Syria that has raised U.S. and NATO concerns. The United States and its allies see Assad as the cause of the Syrian crisis, which has claimed more than 250,000 lives in over four years of fighting, and Washington has warned Moscow against beefing up its presence.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia is airlifting weapons to Syria and that Russian servicemen are training its military how to use them. He would not provide numbers or any other specifics.

Asked about Russian planes flying to the airfield near Latakia, Lavrov said they were carrying "military items in accordance with existing contracts and humanitarian aid." He said Russia isn't planning "any additional steps," but held the door open for broader action.

"If it's necessary, we will act in full conformity with the Russian legislation, international law and our obligations, exclusively on the request and consent of the government of Syria and other countries of the region, if there is a talk about helping them fight terrorism," he said.

Russia has been a longtime backer of Syria, and it has supported Assad throughout the civil war by shielding him from U.N. sanctions and providing weapons. It also appears eager to send a broader message that Moscow remains loyal to its allies and strongly resents forceful change of regimes through foreign interference.

Moscow also has other key interests at stake. Russia maintains a naval base at Tartus, just 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Latakia. Earlier this week, the nearby province of Idlib fell to al-Qaida and other Islamic fighters.

Putin has also sought to cast arms supplies to Assad's government as part of international efforts to combat the Islamic State group and other militant organizations in Syria. By floating the idea of joining a U.S.-led coalition fighting IS militants, Putin may hope to improve ties with the West, ravaged in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis.

So far, Russia's moves on Syria do not appear to be coordinated with other countries operating in the area. However, Putin has not ruled out a larger role in Syria, saying last week he was "looking at various options." The vague remark and the ongoing Russian buildup signal that he has decided to back up Assad.

Putin is expected to focus on the situation in Syria when he addresses the U.N. General Assembly at the end of the month, and some analysts believe that Russia wants to have its military force in Syria ready for action by the time he speaks.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia sees Syrian government forces as the only ones capable of fighting the IS, adding that it is Russia's mission to support them.

Lavrov, who in the past days twice spoke with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry about Washington's concerns, bristled at the U.S. warnings and criticized America for failing to include Syria in the anti-IS coalition.

"It's a colossal mistake that the coalition created by the United States envisaged no cooperation with the Syrian government," he said.

But at this stage, it is unclear whether Russian involvement could turn the tide on the battlefield. Since the war erupted in early 2011, Assad's forces have suffered repeated losses. Two out of Syria's 14 provinces are totally out of government control. Idlib fell Wednesday, while Raqqa was seized in 2014 by the Islamic State group.

In terms of numbers, the Russian military today is a far cry from the Soviet army, and it is not capable of deploying a massive force to engage in ground action. Observers expect the Kremlin at the most to send a few warplanes along with support personnel and guards to carry some symbolic airstrikes in a show of Russian determination to fight the IS.

As the Islamic State has gained strength in the region, the U.S. has softened its earlier calls for Assad's ouster, setting the stage for possible cooperation with Russia. The Islamic State, known for its gruesome videos of killing and torturing enemies and non-Muslims, now controls one-third of both Syria and Iraq, and has declared a self-styled caliphate on the territory it controls, imposing a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia.

Israel, meanwhile, has its own set of conflicting interests at stake.

Israel has carefully tried to stay on the sidelines throughout the Syrian war, reacting only when rockets or mortar shells have strayed into Israeli-controlled territory.

On one hand, Israel has no interest in seeing Assad, its long-time nemesis, prevail. In particular, it is worried that a stronger Assad would bolster its archenemy Iran, as well as the Shiite Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

Israeli officials believe that Iran has sent hundreds of fighters into Syria in recent days to help Assad's beleaguered forces. Hezbollah forces, sent in from neighboring Lebanon, have also suffered heavy losses.

While Israel has no interest in seeing Iran succeed, some officials note that the Assad family maintained decades of relative quiet along Syria's front with Israel before the war erupted. If Assad falls, many fear that Islamic militants or rebels that depose him would ultimately be far more hostile to Israel.

Yaalon's information closely resembled that of U.S. defense officials who said Washington has seen the Russians fly a variety of military assets into the airfield south of Latakia, including troops capable of protecting Russian forces there and modular housing units.

Moshe Maoz, a Syria expert at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, says the Russian move was part of a broader strategy to ensure Assad's survival.

"This is the secret to (Assad's) strength: Iran, Russia and Hezbollah," Maoz said.
___

Associated Press writers Lynn Berry in Moscow and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-11

[ezzra]

Russia is playing the part of the protector and saviour of Syria, did they take in any of the Syrian refugees in? not that

any one knows of... they're only there to look after their own agendas and interests in the middle east....

[up-country_sinclair]

In summary: War at any cost. Well, as long as someone else is paying for it and dying in it.

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.

[Credo]

I don't have a big problem with Russia getting involved, but I doubt this is going to do much more than pour fuel on the fire.

I can hardly wait for the first drone strike to accidentally take out a bunch of Russian soldiers.

[simple1]

Western nations are not directly attacking the Assad military and militias (who are responsible for the majority of civilian casualties) as they claim they do not want to see the growth of 'ungoverned' territory.. Western governments are estimating it will a take a minimum of 2/3 years to militarily destroy Daesh, but very little mention of Al-Nusra Front who are claimed to be the most militarily competent Islamist group fighting Assad forces. It is probable that the recent capture of the remaining territory held by Assad in Idlib province by Al-Nusra Front forces, has accelerated Russian support for Assad as the loss of the province is a direct threat to the Alawites in Western Syria.

Has any nation or coalition actually presented a viable road map to end the conflict in Syria?

Edited September 11, 2015 by simple1

[craigt3365]

In summary: War at any cost. Well, as long as someone else is paying for it and dying in it.

Russia is making a lot of money off this, which the Russian economy desperately needs:

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]

[Expat1]

Outstanding. Good to know. Wish them the best. Cleaning up America's mess. Someone's gotta do it.

[craigt3365]

Outstanding. Good to know. Wish them the best. Cleaning up America's mess. Someone's gotta do it.

Can't blame everything on the US. Many players are involved here to make this a mess. Do some research on how the conflict started, and fueled by outside support. It started as part of the Arab Spring uprisings.

[Bakseeda]

I don't have a big problem with Russia getting involved, but I doubt this is going to do much more than pour fuel on the fire.

I can hardly wait for the first drone strike to accidentally take out a bunch of Russian soldiers.

Maybe the drone strike will fry them..... Then we can have a "Brunch" of Russian soldiers.

[weegee]

Is this the prediction from 100's of years ago?

"The two former enemies will join as one to save the world"...

Could be.

[singhajim]

The possibility of Israel fighting to save Assad...who would have thought!!!

[FangFerang]

The Russians reported this two days ago. Why are we reading an Israeli quote about it?

[SOTIRIOS]

...how noble..

..suddenly we are concerned about what...human rights....

...oh sorry...no....territory.....

[RuamRudy]

The world's superpowers fighting their ideological differences through dirty wars in other countries - hardly a new thing.

[Thongkorn]

Is this the prediction from 100's of years ago?

"The two former enemies will join as one to save the world"...

Could be.

Nostradamus, prediction The bear will join forces with the Eagle and fight the Yellow peril, Ok not yellow but strikingly close,

Edited September 11, 2015 by Thongkorn

[cookee68]

I don't have a big problem with Russia getting involved, but I doubt this is going to do much more than pour fuel on the fire.

I can hardly wait for the first drone strike to accidentally take out a bunch of Russian soldiers.

Or even USA or UK, you never know with the Russians

[toooa]

Syria is the West's proxy war. Destruction of Syria and the weakening of Iran at any cost....hopefully Russian help will give Syria a fighting chance.

Edited September 11, 2015 by toooa

[MiKT]

Afghanistan not withstanding, anyone who underestimates the Russian military has not assimilated the lessons of the past.

[Harsh Jones]

Good

Assad is better then Isis

[Harsh Jones]

Afghanistan not withstanding, anyone who underestimates the Russian military has not assimilated the lessons of the past.

The west was bleeding Russia in Afghanistan just like they bled the US in Vietnam

[Walter Travolta]

Washington has warned Moscow against beefing up its presence.

Who do the US think they are? Telling the world how to behave/act? If Russia take out ISIS then all the better, only cleaning up the mess that Washington caused by shouting about WMD which never existed, taking out Saddam and underestimating how weak the population of Iraq was in not defending its own country.

Bush was the perpetrator and HE advised that work was still to be completed and not to withdraw troops too early. Obama took over and removed the troops too early, before the Iraqi's were able to defend themselves, so when ISIS invaded, the locals dropped their weapons and ran away. ISIS claimed these weapons and the rest is history.

Whoever says that the US is not to blame for this is totally deluded or blindly patriotic

Im from the UK and not being a hypocrite, also blame Tony Blah blah blah. But all he was being was Bush's lap dog, a yes man. I hope they both face war crime charges, because they are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths.

If the US would stop meddling in EVERYTHING that goes on in any part of the world, maybe none of this would be happening

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.

[simple1]

Recently reported another factor in the increased Russian military aid is the prospect of the main water supply for Damascus being cut off at Ain Al-Fijah springs. Again Al-Nusra Front is in the forefront of the fighting.

EDIT: It has been forecasted that another million Syrians will attempt to cross over to bordering countries in the coming months as the fighting continues. One has to wonder at what point coalition forces will finally push into Syria to set up protected safe zones bordering Jordan & Turkey for the refugees.

Edited September 13, 2015 by simple1

[jazzyfrosty]

Pure Israeli propaganda at its best, the Russians have a permanent base there, so they've always been there and have contracts to support Syria which are being honoured. I'd rather have them their as Harsh Jones States than supporting ISIS which is a post Al Q after the West aided them with training and arms, it's shocking the truth behind his development, but you will rarely read this in the biased Western media.

[craigt3365]

I posted this in another thread. Could be other reasons for Russian's new actions in Syria:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/854327-putin-jockeying-for-deal-with-us-on-syria/page-3#entry9847670

[ABCer]

Russia is playing the part of the protector and saviour of Syria, did they take in any of the Syrian refugees in? not that

any one knows of... they're only there to look after their own agendas and interests in the middle east....

By no means I must be viewed as a Russia supporter. But your choice of words is not 100% befitting in this case.

Looking only after their own agenda - wouldn't it be nice if every country was so transparent and predictable?

Russian interests in the Middle East - the Russians try to sell arms with no strings attached. Whether this is good or bad - I am not a judge. At least they didn't sponsor the "Arab Spring".

I can see no goodness coming from the fall of Assad. Can you?

Once again - not saying Assad is 'a good man'. But Saddam wasn't 'a good man' either. And neither was Qaddafi.

[Loptr]

Russia is playing the part of the protector and saviour of Syria, did they take in any of the Syrian refugees in? not that

any one knows of... they're only there to look after their own agendas and interests in the middle east....

Which is to keep Saudi Arabia and Qatar from using Syrian soil for a natgas / oil pipelines to southern Europe...

[Loptr]

The world's superpowers fighting their ideological differences through dirty wars in other countries - hardly a new thing.

While millions are murdered, maimed and displaced, the only thing that matters is profits for the banks, wars for the military industrial complex and control by the elites... I don't know about you, but this shit is getting old...

[simple1]

Russia is playing the part of the protector and saviour of Syria, did they take in any of the Syrian refugees in? not that

any one knows of... they're only there to look after their own agendas and interests in the middle east....

Which is to keep Saudi Arabia and Qatar from using Syrian soil for a natgas / oil pipelines to southern Europe...

Thanks - very interesting...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar-Turkey_pipeline

Plus...

http://journal-neo.org/2014/12/16/israel-proposes-natural-gas-pipeline-to-southern-europe/

Edited September 13, 2015 by simple1