In an interview with state-run TV, the head of the Syrian diplomacy said the Russian presence in Syria is so far confined to military experts and specialists, refuting media reports that Russian soldiers were fighting alongside the Syrian army.
"There is a difference between a Russian military engagement on ground, and providing aid and expertise and training on some sort of weaponry that we have received from the Russian Federation," al-Moallem told the TV.
"I say so far there is no Russian-Syrian joint fight on ground, but if we sensed that there is a need for that, we will consider and ask, not only consider, but we will ask (for that joint fight)," the minister stressed.
Meanwhile, the minister refused to confirm or deny reports that Russian pilots and experts along with drones and other high-end military equipment have arrived to the Bassel al-Assad International Airport in the coastal city of Latakia.
"I can neither confirm nor deny the reports, but I can say that the cooperation between Syria and Russia, between our Armed Forces and their Armed Forces, is a strategic and deep," he said.
The remarks came as reports of Syrian army started using newly-received Russian weaponry emerged Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said "the new weaponry sent by Russia is of high and precise efficiency and the Syrian army has started getting trained to use them."
The TV didn't elaborate on where exactly the new weapons were deployed.
Russian officials have recently stressed that Moscow will continue providing military aid to Damascus, and that the military support will be accompanied by Russian specialists.
"There were military supplies. They are ongoing and they will continue," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Sunday. "They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel to use these weaponry."
Russia says the military aid is aimed at combating terrorism in accordance with international law.
Syria is reeling under four years of conflict and intense battles between government troops and an array of ultra-radical groups such as the Nursra Front and the IS.
Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
18/9/15
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Related:
Moscow says it's ready to provide any information on aid to Syria at US request. -- The US-led anti-terror coalition lacks coordination with the government in Damascus
Russia will keep offering military-technical help to Damascus in fight with ISIS/ISIL — (Putin)
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Syria crisis: US and Russian defence chiefs discuss conflict...
ReplyDeleteTop US and Russian defence officials have held their first talks in more than a year to discuss the Syrian conflict, the Pentagon says.
Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter spoke with Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on areas where "perspectives overlap and areas of divergence", a statement said.
Russia said the talks proved both sides had common ground, state media said.
The US and Russia have disagreed sharply on Syria's bloody civil war.
While Moscow has backed the Syrian government, the US sees the removal of President Bashar al-Assad as essential to resolving the conflict.
The US has also been alarmed about reports of a Russian military build-up in Syria, at a time when the Assad government has been losing ground to rebels.
News of the phone call between Mr Carter and Mr Shoigu emerged shortly after Secretary of State John Kerry said the US hoped military-to-military conversations would take place "very shortly". .....BBC
18/9/15