Syria conflict: Russia 'to continue Assad military aid'

BBC News

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged continued military support for Syria's Bashar al-Assad despite growing concerns over Moscow's role in the war.

Mr Putin urged other countries to join Russia in sending "military-technical assistance".

He said the influx refugees to Europe would have been "even bigger" without Russian support for Syria's government.

The US and its Western allies oppose President Assad, and say that backing him risks prolonging the conflict.

But Moscow has been a key ally of Mr Assad during the bloody civil war, which began in 2011.

It says military equipment is being sent to Syria to help the government combat the so-called Islamic State.

Refugees

President Putin said on Tuesday: "We support the government of Syria… in countering the terrorist aggression.

"We provide and will continue to provide it with the necessary military technical assistance. And we urge other countries to join us."

Image copyrightAP

Image captionSyrians make up the largest group of people arriving in Europe looking for asylum

Speaking at defence summit in Tajikistan, Mr Putin also said the situation in Syria would have been "worse than in Libya" had Russia not been supporting its leadership.

European countries have been struggling to cope with thousands of people arriving at their borders after fleeing the conflict.

Image copyrightStratfor

Image captionThis satellite image - taken on 4 September 2015 - allegedly shows construction at Latakia's airport

President Putin's comments come after the US expressed concern at Russia's recent movements near Syria's coastal city of Latakia.

Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said on Monday that a steady flow of people and equipment suggested that Moscow was planning to establish a "forward air operating base" there.

'Humanitarian aid'

US officials also fear that the stepped-up Russian support will strengthen the Syrian government at a time when it has been losing on the battlefield and will complicate efforts to find a political solution, the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in New York reports.

Russia has denied building up their presence in Syria, although Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week that Russia would send more help to Syria if requested.

Syrian and Russian state media said on Saturday that two Russian cargo planes with 80 tonnes of humanitarian aid landed in Syria.

The planes reportedly flew into an airbase near Latakia - a stronghold of President Assad. Russia's defence ministry said the plane was carrying materials for setting up a tent camp for refugees.

Last week, officials in Washington quoted by Reuters said Moscow had sent more aircraft and two tank landing ships to Russia's naval base in the Syrian coastal city of Tartus.

They also said a small number of naval infantry forces had been deployed.

The war between President Assad's regime and various rebel groups has so far killed at least 240,000 people and displaced millions.