A decades-long backer of the Damascus regime, Moscow has remained a steadfast supporter of President Bashar Assad throughout four and a half years of war that have left more than 240,000 people dead.
Its recent deployment of its own troops and warplanes to Syria, combined with new arms deliveries to Assad's armed forces, appear to have prompted a significant shift in international efforts to end the conflict.
Saturday was the 15th straight day that Russian transport aircraft had flown in troops and equipment to the Hmeimim base in Latakia province on the Mediterranean coast, a military source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"For the past two weeks and again today a Russian cargo plane has landed every morning at Hmeimim," the source said, adding that they all had fighter escorts.
At least some of the cargo was then unloaded and transported out of the airport, the source said.
U.S. satellites have recorded increased activity by Russian forces at the base inside the Bassel al-Assad civil and military airport.
The Syrian army used Russian-delivered drones Wednesday for the first time, a security source in Damascus said.
Washington and NATO say that recent spottings of helicopters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, tanks and soldiers prove that Russia is building an airbase in Latakia, the Assad regime's coastal heartland.
Russian military aircraft have conducted reconnaissance flights over Syria but not yet launched any strikes, the Pentagon said.......Agence France Presse
dailystar.com.lb
26/9/15
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