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Syria confirms receipt of Russian jets to target Isis
Source: The Guardian
Syria confirms receipt of Russian jets to target Isis
Ian Black Middle East editor, and Alec Luhn in Moscow
Tuesday 22 September 2015 20.04 BST
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 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.
US officials have reported that Russia now has 28 fighter aircraft in Syria, and plans to send 2,000 personnel to an airbase south of the coastal city of Latakia. Russia has started to fly unmanned aircraft over Syria in what appears to be surveillance operations.
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Ian Black Middle East editor, and Alec Luhn in Moscow
Tuesday 22 September 2015 20.04 BST
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 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.
US officials have reported that Russia now has 28 fighter aircraft in Syria, and plans to send 2,000 personnel to an airbase south of the coastal city of Latakia. Russia has started to fly unmanned aircraft over Syria in what appears to be surveillance operations.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/syria-confirms-receipt-russian-jets-isis