Syrian army starts using new weapons from Russia
* Syrian prioritises counterterrorism as prelude to political solution
BEIRUT: The Syrian military has recently started using new types of air and ground weapons supplied by Russia, a Syrian military source told Reuters on Thursday, underlining growing Russian support to Damascus that is alarming the United States.
The source described the weapons as highly accurate and effective. The army had started using them in recent weeks having been trained in their use in Syria in recent months, the source said. “New weapons are being delivered, and new types of weapons. The Syrian army is being trained in the use of these weapons. In fact, the army has started using some of these (weapon) types,” the source said in response to a question about Russian support.
“The weapons are highly effective and very accurate, and hit targets precisely,” the source told Reuters. “We can say they are all types of weapons - be it air or ground.” The source declined to give further details about the weapons. Alongside Russia’s military supplies to the Syrian army, an ally since Soviet times, Moscow is expanding its own forces on the ground in Syria, where more than four years of war have killed an estimated 250,000 people.
Facing a manpower problem in the army, the Syrian government has lost ground this year in the northwest, the southwest and the center of the country to an array of groups including Islamic State and other insurgents battling to topple President Bashar al-Assad. U.S. officials said on Wednesday the United States had identified a small number of Russian helicopters at a Syrian airfield, the latest addition to what Washington believes is a significant Russian military buildup in the country.
One of the officials said four helicopters had been identified, including helicopter gunships, although it was not clear when the Russian helicopters had arrived there. Russia has been sending about two military cargo flights a day to an air base at Latakia on the government-controlled Syrian coast, U.S. officials say. Reuters has previously reported on U.S. assessments that Russia has sent about 200 naval infantry forces, battle tanks, artillery and other equipment to an airfield near Latakia.
Thus far in the conflict, Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah have been the main source of military support for Damascus. Hezbollah has deployed directly in combat, while Iran has mobilized militias and sent military advisers. Lebanese sources familiar with military and political developments in Syria have also previously told Reuters that Russians are taking part in military operations in the country. Syrian officials say the Russian military presence is restricted to experts.
Meanwhile, Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Thursday that his government prioritizes counter terrorism as a prelude to any political solution for the country’s long-running conflict, according to the state news agency SANA.
The remarks were made during a meeting held between al-Moallem and the visiting United Nations envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura.
Al-Moallem said Syria will study the “ideas” put forward by Mistura and will take the “adequate stance toward his initiative.” Syria posed a number of questions to Mistura on the plan, which was endorsed by the UN Security Council on Aug. 17.
“We are awaiting his answers,” Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said early September. “Once we have received the answers, we will determine our decision toward his initiative.” Mistura’s plan calls for the formation of four working groups that would include representatives from both the government and Syrian opposition groups.
The groups’ focus would be on four fields: safety and protection, including ending the blockade and ensuring the arrival of medical aid; political and constitutional issues, such as establishing an interim government board and holding elections; military and security issues, including the fight against terrorism and a cease-fire; and public institutions and development, with a focus on reconstruction of the country.
The groups would examine political reforms and form a transitional authority.
Syria has been in the throes of conflict since 2011, when opposition actions against the government of President Bashar al-Assad evolved into a running war that also saw the emergence of al Qaeda-linked groupings such as the Nursra Front and extremist groups like the Islamic State (IS). According to UN estimates, an estimated 220,000 people have been killed in the conflict and half of the Syrian population displaced, fuelling an exodus of refugees to neighboring states, Europe and other countries.
0 comments:
Post a Comment