Report: Russia Building A Military Base In Syria

The Telegraph: Russia 'is building military base in Syria'

American officials express concern about latest intelligence suggesting Moscow is preparing to send hundreds of personnel to prop up Assad regime.

Russia is building a military base in Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s heartland, according to American intelligence officials, in the clearest indication yet of deepening Russian support for the embattled regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The anonymous officials say Russia has set up an air traffic control tower and transported prefabricated housing units for up to 1,000 personnel to an airfield serving the Syrian port city of Latakia.

Russia has also requested the rights to fly over neighbouring countries with military cargo aircraft during September, according to the reports.

Update #1: Russia building a military base in Syria: report -- The Hill
Update #2: Russia may be escalating military role in Syria -- L.A. Times

WNU Editor: If Russian social media and the Western media are to be believed .... Russia is building a military base in Syria to house 1,000+ Russian soldiers and an undetermined number of military aircraft. If true, this is a major policy shift for Russia ..... they have decided to become directly involved in the Syrian civil war. This also raises the real possibility that U.S. - Russian aircraft may now meet above the skies of Syria .... and who knows what may happen when that event occurs.