Two Russian planes carrying 80 tonnes of 'humanitarian aid' arrived yesterday at an air base in the Syrian city of Latakia, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The aircrafts' arrival comes amid increasing reports that Moscow is upping its military support to the Syrian government and as the US and UK pursue a programme of drone strikes against fighters of the jihadist group Daesh. Such moves say some intelligence analysts are signs that the major powers are becoming increasingly embroiled in the Syrian conflict.
According to Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov, yesterday's airlift into Latakia was a consignment of materials for setting up a tent camp for refugees including beds, mattresses, stoves, water cisterns and food. The latest Russian moves came in a week in which the US and Nato expressed concern about Russia's incremental military presence in Syria. Nato and US warnings follow reports Moscow has deployed additional aircraft and two tank landing ships in the past couple of days.
"Yes, I am concerned by reports that Russia may have deployed military personnel and aircraft to Syria," said Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last week.
US officials say that Washington believes about 200 Russian naval infantrymen are now stationed at the airbase near Latakia. This as Russia intensifies naval exercise off the Syrian coast.
Reports also point to Moscow having dispatched the advanced Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile system to Syria, where the US has been engaging in airstrikes against Daesh targets.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov insists his country is sending this equipment to help Syrian President al- Assad fight Daesh but this has done little to assuage fears in Western diplomatic and military circles.
So concerned is Washington that US Secretary of State John Kerry called foreign minister, Lavrov twice this month warning of a possible “confrontation” with the United States, if the build up led to Russian offensive operations in support of Assad’s forces that might hit American trainers or allies.
According to one report in Gulf News US officials told a journalist 'that the intelligence community has collected evidence that Russia plans to deploy Mikoyan MiG 31 and Sukhoi Su-25 fighter planes to Latakia in the coming days and weeks.'
Among the military equipment that has already arrived are air traffic control towers, aircraft maintenance supplies, and housing units for hundreds of personnel.
The United States State Department had already begun pushing back against the Russian moves by asking Bulgaria and Greece to deny overflight permissions to Syria-bound Russian transport planes.
President Barack Obama is reported to have called on his national security officials to come up with a plan as soon as possible. Options however are limited with some advocating confrontation with Russia inside Syria or, as some in the White House prefer, cooperate with Russia there on the fight against Daesh.
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