Russia deploys tanks to Syrian airbase amid tension with US

Russia has positioned tanks at a Syrian airfield where it has been steadily building up defenses, two US officials told Reuters on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. One of the officials said seven Russian T-90 tanks were seen at the airfield near Latakia, a stronghold of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. The two US officials said Russia had also positioned artillery there.

Russia is using an air corridor over Iraq and Iran to fly military equipment and personnel to the new airbase in Syria, openly defying US efforts to block the shipments and significantly increasing tensions with Washington.

US officials disclosed on Sunday that at least seven giant Russian Condor transport planes had taken off from a base in southern Russia during the past week to ferry equipment to Syria, all passing through Iranian and Iraqi airspace. Their destination was an airfield south of Latakia, which could become the most significant new Russian military foothold in the Middle East in decades, US officials said.

The Obama administration initially hoped it had hampered the Russian effort to move military equipment and personnel into Syria when Bulgaria, a Nato member, announced it would close its airspace to the flights. But Russia quickly began channeling its flights over Iraq and Iran, which Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on Sunday would continue despite objections from Washington.

“There were military supplies, they are ongoing, and they will continue,” Mr Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. “They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use this weaponry.”

Friction point

Moscow’s military buildup in Syria, where the Kremlin has been supporting Mr Assad in a 4½-year civil war, adds a new friction point in its relations with the US. The actions also lay bare another major policy challenge for the US: how to encourage Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi, who came to power with the blessing of the US, to block the Russian flights.

According to US intelligence, about 200 Russian marines and six Russian howitzers now guard the airbase south of Latakia. More prefabricated buildings have been delivered, increasing the housing capacity to 1,500 people. Dozens of Russian vehicles have been observed at the base.

US intelligence has not yet detected Russian fighter jets. However, some US officials said Russian SU-25 and MiG-31 attack planes might arrive in the next phase of the buildup. The Russian move positions it to have major influence in Syria’s future and draws attention away from Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. – (Reuters/New York Times)