Russia is supplying the Syrian army with weapons, including light weapons, grenade launchers, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers and Kamaz military trucks, the Russian daily Kommersant reported today.
According to the newspaper, Russia claims that the goal of sending military aid to Syria is to support the fight against terrorists, but the West suspects that Moscow is building up its military presence on the ground for the benefit of its long-time ally, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
"Kommersant" states, citing an unnamed source in the export sector, that Syria has paid in advance for the S-300 anti-aircraft systems, but that Moscow has meanwhile given up on the delivery.
Peskov without confirmation that Russian troops are in Syria
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment today on whether Russian troops are participating in the fighting in Syria, after sources in Lebanon told Reuters that Russian forces had begun participating in operations in Syria.
"The threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) is obvious... The only force capable of resisting it is the Syrian army," Peskov said, echoing official Moscow's position that its long-term ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, should be part of international efforts in the fight with the radical Islamist group.
Peskov added that Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak about Syria and IS during his address to the UN General Assembly later this month in New York.
Reuters reports, citing "three Lebanese sources familiar with the political and military situation" in Syria, that "Russian forces have begun participating in combat operations in that country in support of the Syrian army."
And in other Western media, with reference to sources from the US military, news appeared about the alleged deployment of Russian soldiers to Syria.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday that Russia supplies military equipment to Syria in full compliance with international law and that it can, if necessary, consider additional assistance to Damascus in the fight against terrorism.
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