Russian planes heading for Syria to evacuate nationals

PanARMENIAN.Net - Two Russian Emergencies Ministry planes will deliver humanitarian aid to Syria on Tuesday and evacuate Russians and nationals of former Soviet republics from the war-stricken Middle East country, RIA Novosti reported citing an Emergencies Ministry official.

“Il-62 and Il-76 airplanes have taken off for Latakia [eastern Syria],” the official said, adding the planes would return witn evacuees later in the day.

The planes are carrying around 46 tons of humanitarian aid, including tents and power generators.

Meanwhile, Russian naval vessels in the Mediterranean are also standing by to evacuate Russian nationals if necessary, with an additional four large landing ships also expected to arrive in the area soon, a military source told RIA Novosti.

"The main task of the Russian naval forces will be participation in a possible evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria," the source said.

There was no information available on how many Russian nationals were waiting to travel back to Moscow on Tuesday.

The Russian embassy in Syria estimated there were some 30,000 Russians living in the country, but other reports suggest the figure could be much higher.