"There are 28 fighter and bomber aircraft" at an airfield in the western Syrian province of Latakia, one of the officials told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A second official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the figure, and added there were about 20 Russian combat and transport helicopters at the base.
That official also said Russia was operating drones over Syria, but did not give additional details.
Washington in recent weeks has expressed growing concern over Russia's increasing military presence in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad.
The United States has warned that Russian military backing for the Syrian regime only risks sending more extremists to the war-torn country and could further hamper any effort at bringing peace.
Moscow, meanwhile, has been on a diplomatic push to get the coalition of Western and regional powers fighting the Islamic State group to join forces with Assad against the jihadists.
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Friday, ending an 18-month freeze in military relations triggered by NATO anger over Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis.
They agreed to continue discussions, which are crucial to lessen the risk of incidents involving coalition forces and Russian forces operating in the same air space.
The US-led coalition is carrying out almost daily strikes against the jihadists in Syria.
AFP
ahram.org.eg
21/9/15
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International coalition only simulating anti-terrorist efforts in Middle East — (Russian FM)
The airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition against the positions of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Syria have not produced any result, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has told Kyodo News in an interview...
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Moscou exige des "actes" anti-terrorisme et déploie des avions ...
ReplyDeleteLa Russie a condamné lundi le bombardement la veille de son ambassade à Damas, appelant à des "actes" contre le terrorisme et déployant, selon Washington, 28 avions de combat en Syrie.
Selon des responsables américains, il s'agit de bombardiers SU-24 et d'avions d'attaque au sol SU-25, déployés dans la province de Lattaquié (ouest de la Syrie), un fief du président syrien Bachar al-Assad.
"Ils ont mis la capacité de faire des bombardements. Où, quand, et en appui de qui nous ne savons pas" a résumé, sous couvert d'anonymat, l'un des responsables interrogés par l'AFP.
Dans un communiqué, le ministère russe des Affaires étrangères a appelé à des "actions concrètes" après la chute dimanche sur le territoire de la représentation diplomatique russe dans la capitale syrienne d'une roquette, qui n'a toutefois pas causé de dégâts.
"La roquette a été tirée du quartier de Jobar, où sont retranchés les groupes hostiles au gouvernement syrien", a accusé Moscou.
Estimant que ce bombardement avait constitué un "acte terroriste", la diplomatie russe a assuré attendre "une condamnation claire de la part de toute la communauté internationale, y compris des acteurs régionaux" et réclamé "des actes, pas seulement des paroles"..........rtbf.be