Syria confirms receiving aircraft from Russia to fight IS

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria has confirmed for the first time that it has received advanced fighter and reconnaissance aircraft from Russia, which the Damascus government says have significantly enhanced its ability to target Islamic State fighters, the Guardian reports citing AFP.

The Syrian air force has “taken delivery of at least five fighter planes from Moscow, as well as reconnaissance aircraft which allow us to identify targets with great accuracy,” a senior military official told the AFP news agency on Tuesday. Russia has also sent other “sophisticated military equipment” to fight Isis.

A Syrian army officer told the Guardian separately that infantry units were now receiving more accurate satellite images of Isis positions and that airstrikes against them were thus more accurate and frequent, apparently thanks to Russian help. There remains uncertainty, however, over how directly the Russians are prepared to get involved in the conflict.

Western and Arab governments appear confused by Moscow’s moves, having recently hoped that it would take part in diplomatic efforts to end the crisis. Britain’s defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said on Tuesday that the Russian buildup in Syria had further complicated an already complex situation. Unlike the US, the UK has had no direct talks with Russia about the deployment, he said.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf partners called the Russian move an “escalation” and said Syria had no future while Assad was in power. Foreign ministers of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council urged a political solution to the crisis “without any foreign intervention” – a clear swipe at Russia and Iran.