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WORLD NEWS 9
Friday 11 September 2015

Russian troops already in Syria, Israel defense chief says

near Latakia, Lavrov said request and consent of the Moscow remains loyal to its
they were carrying “mili- government of Syria and allies and strongly resents
tary items in accordance other countries of the re- forceful change of regimes
with existing contracts and gion, if there is a talk about through foreign interfer-
humanitarian aid.” He said helping them fight terror- ence.
Russia isn’t planning “any ism,” he said. Moscow also has other key
additional steps,” but held Russia has been a longtime interests at stake. Russia
the door open for broader backer of Syria, and it has maintains a naval base at
action. supported Assad through- Tartus, just 50 miles (80 ki-
“If it’s necessary, we will out the civil war by shield- lometers) south of Latakia.
act in full conformity with ing him from U.N. sanctions Earlier this week, the near-
the Russian legislation, in- and providing weapons. It by province of Idlib fell to
ternational law and our ob- also appears eager to send al-Qaida and other Islamic
ligations, exclusively on the a broader message that fighters.q

In this 2012 photo, Syrian President Bashar Assad, left,
shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in
Damascus, Syria. Lavrov said Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, that
Russian aircraft flying into Syria have been delivering weapons
along with humanitarian supplies.

(AP Photo/Pool)

J. FEDERMAN goal of setting up an air
V. ISACHENKOV base near the coastal
Associated Press town of Latakia that could
Russia has been sending be used to stage strikes on
military forces into Syria in Islamic State fighters.
recent days, Israel’s de- “As far as we understand,
fense chief announced at this stage we are talk-
Thursday, as Moscow hint- ing about a limited force
ed at broader action to that includes advisers, a se-
bolster President Bashar curity team and prepara-
Assad’s embattled army tions for operating planes
following a string of battle- and combat helicopters,”
field losses. Yaalon said. He called the
The increased Russian ac- move “significant.”
tivity in Syria reflects Mos- The claim was the latest
cow’s deep concerns that indication of a Russian mili-
its longtime ally is on the tary buildup in Syria that
brink of collapse, as well as has raised U.S. and NATO
hopes by President Vladi- concerns.
mir Putin that a common
battle against Islamic State The United States and
extremists can improve its allies see Assad as the
Russia’s ties with the West, cause of the Syrian crisis,
strained over Ukraine. which has claimed more
But the strategy could be than 250,000 lives in over
risky — and unless Russia four years of fighting, and
sends large numbers of Washington has warned
troops, halting the territorial Moscow against beefing
gains made by Islamic mili- up its presence.
tants could prove tough. In Moscow, Russian For-
Israeli Defense Minister eign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Moshe Yaalon told report- said that Russia is airlifting
ers Thursday that the Rus- weapons to Syria and that
sian buildup appears to be Russian servicemen are
limited for the time being. training its military how to
He said military advisers, use them. He would not
technicians and security provide numbers or any
guards have arrived in re- other specifics.
cent days, with the main Asked about Russian
planes flying to the airfield