Any point here?
Yeah!
According to a U.S. official speaking to VOA on the condition of anonymity, Russia now has 28 attack aircraft at the Bassel al-Assad air base near Latakia, up from four confirmed aircraft on Friday. “It’s a significant, long-term build-up,” the official said. “It’s a long-term deal.” The contingent includes 12 Su-25 “Frogfoots,” 12 Su-25 “Fencers” and four “Flankers.” Imagery experts at AllSource Analysis identified the “Flankers” as Su-30s.
Stratfor, a geopolitical intelligence and advisory firm based in Austin, Texas, said the Su-30s are advanced aircraft “suited for both air-superiority missions, as well as ground attack operations.” Stratfor called the presence of the Su-25 “Frogfoots” significant because it indicates “a clear intent to develop a ground attack capability that would be able to impose significant pressure on targets across the Syrian front lines.” The U.S. official said 20 Russian attack and transport helicopters also are being stationed at the base, up from eight on Friday, and that additional tanks also had been brought in.
Russian aircraft at the Bassel al-Assad air base near Latakia, Syria
In addition, the official confirmed reports that Russia has begun flying drones on reconnaissance missions, as first reported by Reuters. U.S. officials said previously that Russia was landing about two cargo flights a day at the air base and has enough modular housing for up to 2,000 troops with about 500 naval infantrymen already on the ground. “We’re obviously watching the situation on the ground in Syria very closely,” Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters Monday. “We’re keenly aware of what is happening there.”
The build-up of Russian forces in Syria has raised concerns those forces could come into conflict with the air campaign by U.S. and coalition forces targeting the group known as the Islamic State. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter spoke Friday with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu. The two agreed to continue talking in order to establish “mechanisms for de-confliction” to prevent any accidental military engagement, but the Pentagon said Monday those talks remained in the early stages, and there were no “next steps” to announce.
US Official: Russia Military Build-Up in Syria ‘Long Term’
"Russia has invested very seriously in this crisis, politically, diplomatically and now also militarily," Vitaly Churkin told Kommersant daily, referring to an international agreement to cease hostilities sealed in Munich last week. "Therefore we would like Assad also to respond to this," he said, adding that the Syrian leader's stance "is not in accord with the diplomatic efforts that Russia is making." At their meeting in Munich, the 17-nation group backing Syria's peace process agreed to work for a ceasefire, the lifting of starvation sieges and the resumption of talks.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin (L)
In an interview with AFP last week, Assad defiantly pledged to retake the whole of the country, speaking before the plan for a nationwide "cessation of hostilities" in Syria was announced. Asked to comment to journalists on the unusually outspoken criticism of Assad, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday said President Vladimir Putin backed the Syrian peace process but stressed that the ceasefire had not yet been implemented. "Everyone including President Putin recognises that there is no alternative other than a political resolution," he said. Nevertheless the ceasefire "is now being worked out, discussed. Wait, let's not run ahead," Peskov said.
Russian air force pilots arrive to board a Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jet before departure on a mission at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, in the northwest of Syria
In the interview, Churkin, who has served as Russia's ambassador to the United Nations since 2006, stressed that if Syria "follows Russia's leadership in resolving this crisis, then they have a chance to come out of it in a dignified way." "If they in some way stray from this path -- and this is my personal opinion -- a very difficult situation could arise. Including for themselves," he warned. "If they proceed on the basis that no ceasefire is necessary and they need to fight to a victorious end, then this conflict will last a very long time and that is terrifying to imagine." Syria is "already on the brink of falling apart," he said.
- 'Too late' for no-fly zone -
Is Russia carving up Syria?...
Russia warns Assad on vow to retake all of Syria
19 Feb.`16 - Russia's envoy to the UN on Friday warned long-term ally President Bashar al-Assad over his vow to retake all of Syria, saying he faced dire consequences if he did not comply with Moscow over the peace process.
"Russia has invested very seriously in this crisis, politically, diplomatically and now also militarily," Vitaly Churkin told Kommersant daily, referring to an international agreement to cease hostilities sealed in Munich last week. "Therefore we would like Assad also to respond to this," he said, adding that the Syrian leader's stance "is not in accord with the diplomatic efforts that Russia is making." At their meeting in Munich, the 17-nation group backing Syria's peace process agreed to work for a ceasefire, the lifting of starvation sieges and the resumption of talks.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin (L)
In an interview with AFP last week, Assad defiantly pledged to retake the whole of the country, speaking before the plan for a nationwide "cessation of hostilities" in Syria was announced. Asked to comment to journalists on the unusually outspoken criticism of Assad, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday said President Vladimir Putin backed the Syrian peace process but stressed that the ceasefire had not yet been implemented. "Everyone including President Putin recognises that there is no alternative other than a political resolution," he said. Nevertheless the ceasefire "is now being worked out, discussed. Wait, let's not run ahead," Peskov said.
Russian air force pilots arrive to board a Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jet before departure on a mission at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, in the northwest of Syria
In the interview, Churkin, who has served as Russia's ambassador to the United Nations since 2006, stressed that if Syria "follows Russia's leadership in resolving this crisis, then they have a chance to come out of it in a dignified way." "If they in some way stray from this path -- and this is my personal opinion -- a very difficult situation could arise. Including for themselves," he warned. "If they proceed on the basis that no ceasefire is necessary and they need to fight to a victorious end, then this conflict will last a very long time and that is terrifying to imagine." Syria is "already on the brink of falling apart," he said.
- 'Too late' for no-fly zone -
Firstly, most of the deaths have been of soldiers. Secondly more than half of the civilian deaths have been caused by the rebels, from ISIS to the so-called FSA which includes Al-Qaeda/Al-Nusra. How much propaganda do you think we'll swallow you loon.
That reminds me of the famous map.
