Russia Confirms That It Has Military Advisers in Syria

New York Times: Russia Confirms It Has Military Advisers in Syria

MOSCOW — The Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that Russian military advisers were in Syria, but it said that their presence was part of a longstanding agreement to provide military aid to the Middle Eastern country.

Russian military aid to Syria has become a new source of tension between Washington and Moscow over the past few days, with the United States accusing Russia of escalating the conflict.

“Russian military specialists help Syrians master Russian hardware, and we can’t understand the anti-Russian hysteria about this,” said Maria V. Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, adding that Russia had never made a secret about its cooperation with Syria over military technology.

WNU Editor: My read of the situation is that Russian intelligence made the determination that Assad was losing the civil war, but with Iranian/Hezbollah ground support coupled with Russian air support and military advisers the dynamics and momentum on the ground would then change in favour of the Assad regime. Is this assessment correct .... yes and no. Russian involvement will probably stop the Assad regime from losing critical territory .... but it will not be enough to go on the offensive and to retake that part of the country which is now under rebel/Al Qaeda/Islamic State control. This is going to be a very long war .... and I doubt that the Russian public has the appetite or desire to see their soldiers involved in a civil war that shows no signs of ending.

More News On Russia Confirming That It Has Military Advisers in Syria

Syrian official says Russian experts expand their presence -- Reuters
Russia Says 'No Secret' It Has Military Specialists in Syria -- AP
Russia notes military advisers in Syria amid widening friction with West -- Washington Post
Moscow admits Russian military experts on the ground in Syria -- FOX News
Russian experts more present in Syria: Syrian army official -- Reuters
Russia Weighs Deeper Military Role in Syria, Defying U.S. -- Bloomberg
U.S. Voices Concern Over Russia’s Buildup in Syria -- WSJ
US, NATO Leery of Russian Actions in Syria -- VOA
Giant Russian transport aircraft in Syria raise concerns -- CBS/AP
Expanded Syria Presence Would Carry Big Risks for Russia -- WSJ
Russian supplies to Syria: Moscow gains more leverage with Assad? -- Arthur Bright, CSM
Is Putin Planning a Gamble in Syria? -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg
Who are these Russian fighters posting pics of themselves in Syria? -- BBC