Russia steps up military aid to Syrian government
Iran Press TV
Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:37PM GMT
Russia has reportedly increased its military aid to the Syrian government which is engaged in fighting against foreign-backed Takfiri militants.
According to a Reuters report, the Syrian army has been receiving supplies of military gear, including armored vehicles, drones and precision-guided bombs, surveillance equipment, radars and electronic warfare systems since December last year.
'Dozens of Antonov 124s (Russian transport planes) have been bringing in armored vehicles, surveillance equipment, radars, electronic warfare systems, spare parts for helicopters, and various weapons including guided bombs for planes,' the report quoted a Middle East security source as saying.
The new Russian supplies come at a critical stage of the conflict in the Arab country, with Syria peace talks scheduled for next week in Geneva, the foreign-backed militants losing ground, and Western support for the rebels weakening.
Russia says its arms deals with Syria do not violate international law and it is only selling defensive systems to Damascus.
Meanwhile, Arab media report that a group of extremist Salafist clerics from Jordan has travelled to Syria to make peace between warring al-Qaeda factions.
The group is trying to settle a truce between militants from the al-Nusra Front and the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The two al-Qaeda-linked groups are responsible for the killing of civilians and bombings in Syria.
PG/SS
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