Syria denies military drill with Russia, China, Iran

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria denied on Tuesday, June 19 reports of an upcoming military exercise on its territory with the participation of Russian, Chinese, and Iranian forces, RIA Novosti reported.

Media reports said the exercise would take place in Syria and in its territorial waters, and that Egypt has allowed 12 Chinese warships to pass through the Suez Canal.

“This information is out of synch with reality,” said Buseina Shaaban, political advisor to the Syrian president. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

She also dismissed Western media reports that a cargo vessel has left the Baltic Sea port of Kaliningrad with a consignment of helicopters and is headed for Syria.

“This information is a provocation and it also has nothing to do with reality,” Shaaban said.

According to UN estimates, about 12,000 people have been killed in Syria since the beginning of a popular uprising against President Assad in March 2011, which started with peaceful protests but has since grown into a low-level civil war.