Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting with Vice-President of the European Commission for Budget and Human Resources Kristalina Georgieva in Moscow, Russia, September 8, 2015. REUTERS/SERGEI KARPUKHIN
Reuters: Russia's Lavrov says Moscow to continue military support of Syria: reports
Russia will continue with military supplies to Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies on Sunday.
Moscow has come under increased international pressure in recent days over what Washington and Gulf states say is a Russian military build-up in Syria, where the Kremlin has been supporting President Bashar al-Assad in a four-and-a-half-year war.
"There were military supplies, they are ongoing and they will continue. They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use these weaponry," Lavrov said.
Update: Russia vows military support for Syria -- Al Jazeera
WNU Editor: It is very rare for the Russian Foreign office to repeat its position on any issue .... but on Syria they have gotten out of their way to do so. As I had mentioned last night .... if this is not "drawing a line in the sand on Syria" .... I do not know what is.
8 comments:
In the near future Putin's red line will not be the World's red line.
BS walks as they say. Obama does a lot of walking around the golf course.
For my part, I am somewhat pleased to find Russia trying to manifest its decisiveness, because I feel like it being time for someone to take a (resourceful) stand against the caliphate.
Russia is not taking the fight to IS, they are deploying forces to the coastal regions to save Assad from the rebels.
Let´s just wait and see. Up to now there is just a building of forces.
Say what you will about Putin, and I have much to say that is not good, but his lines in the sand are a lot more real than Obama's ever were.
Many excellent thoughts and observations. I still maintain there is a strangeness to all of this that is hard to understand. First the Russians are there and getting there didn't involve Putin waking up a week ago and saying out of nowhere "we
are going to Syria tomorrow". A series of decisions, planning stemming from those decisions, staging of equipment and materials and finally delivery. All of this would take these days something like a year and a half.
What is actually there, no one seems to know for sure, but it seems to be a force that can establish air, ground, and sea operations, albeit in a very limited area.
What kind of air defense did they bring? They brought some, but again no one is sure what. There are creditable reports of a nuke capable submarine moving into the area, why? Just to rescue Assad (probably on the list), they would still be targets of ISIL now and the Iranians later (who want no westerners in the area in the long run). A more convenient supply conduit for Hezbollah, maybe.
Is this all they are bringing in? No ones that and no one is really speculating. The US reaction well that's been ably commented on above. The Israelis, they have been very quiet about this, but the possibilities of Russian pressure by their mere presence is inescapable, especially for any operations to the north and west. This is not to mention the vulnerability of the recently discovered gas and oil fields off their Mediterranean coast
All very very strange, but the Russians apparently believe it is well worth their time and effort.
Now that the Russians are on the ground and building bases alongside their naval facility I'd bet that advanced, long range SAM batteries will be deployed to protect them. After all, all kinds of sophisticated Western fighters and bombers are operating over Syria. A short range Pantsir isn't going to cut it.
Last ditch effort. Protect the port and the airport as long as they can. If the port and the airport get overrun they'll make a good fight and retreat Safely evacuating everybody important. At that point I'd be surprised if Assad doesn't use chem/bio weapons before he is completely swamped, last ditch effort. Right before he gets on a Russian sub he's got a choice to make, throw in the towel or make one last stand with chemicals and bugs. That's what my gut is telling, which means absolutely nothing.
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