U.S. warns Russia on military buildup in Syria

[Eugene]

Source: CNN

U.S. warns Russia on military buildup in Syria

By Jamie Crawford, National Security Producer
Updated 0106 GMT (0806 HKT) September 10, 2015

Washington (CNN) - America's top diplomat called his Russian counterpart Wednesday to warn that Moscow's military buildup of troops in Syria could escalate the bloody conflict there that has engulfed the region for more than four years.

The U.S. has been watching Russia's movement of military personnel with concern for several days, though the Foreign Ministry only confirmed the buildup Wednesday.

There are "Russian military experts in Syria who are instructing (the Syrians) on the use of the military systems being delivered" to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close Moscow ally, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

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In a call to Lavrov Wednesday, Kerry "reiterated our concern about these reports of Russian military activities, or buildup if you will, in Syria and made very clear our view that, if true and borne out, could lead to greater violence and even more instability in Syria," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

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Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/09/politics/russia-syria-military-buildup-kerry-lavrov/

[leveymg]

1. They've been there a long time, and it's Russia's last toehold in

the region. They aren't going to leave just because we and the Saudis tell them to. How much worse do we really want to fuck this up?

[HooptieWagon]

2. I'm of the opinion US should back Russia stabilizing Syria.

[leveymg]

3. Freeze in place and divide up what's left?

This isn't 1919. Not sure either we or Russia or even the two working together still have the ability to impose a settlement. Can't see the Saudis and Iran agreeing to any settlement. I'm afraid we set off a 100 year war at least. Thank you Shrub and Hill.

[bemildred]

4. I don't think we can.

Together we can probably prevent any side from winning, but I don't think we can make them do what we want any more than in Iraq, and it's a lot messier than Iraq now, the war has grown a lot since we ended it.

[bemildred]

5. Russia says its planes are carrying military goods to Syria

MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russian aircraft flying into Syria are delivering military supplies and humanitarian aid - but he shed no light on what the U.S. and NATO worry is a Russian military buildup at a Syrian airfield.

Russia has backed Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the country's 4 1/2-year civil war, providing weapons and military experts to train Syria's military.

Lavrov on Thursday once again confirmed that Russia has military personnel in Syria, but said nothing about reported deployments of additional troops.

Asked about Russian planes flying to the airfield near the Syrian city of Latakia, Lavrov said they were carrying "military goods in accordance with existing contracts and humanitarian aid."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_RUSSIA_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-09-10-07-34-14

[bemildred]

6. Russia's flights to Syria also carry military equipment, says Lavrov

Russian "humanitarian" flights to Syria carry military equipment as well as humanitarian aid, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

The United States and some European countries have expressed growing concern over the cargo on the flights.

Moscow has previously insisted in public that its flights to Syria are only humanitarian. Washington has put pressure on Greece and Bulgaria in recent days to deny Russia's requests to use their airspace for its Syria flights.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/201384/article/ekathimerini/news/russias-flights-to-syria-also-carry-military-equipment-says-lavrov