Russia expands military expedition in Syria; dialogue with US still on hold

Russia has sent fighter jets to Syria following talks with the Obama administration. In an attempt to avoid further escalation of Syrian Civil War, the U.S. has come forward to coordinate with Moscow’s actions in Syria following its launch of combat aircraft in the country.

A U.S. official confirmed to CNN that four Russian Sukhoi "Flanker" jets have been deployed in Syria, but how those are to be used remains unclear. The U.S. has also observed Russian military helicopters, tanks, mobile artillery and armoured vehicles at the Syrian airbase.

This move not only indicates Russia’s escalating military moves inside Syria but also the act of defending itself for supporting the Assad regime. On Friday, Defence Secretary Ashton B. Carter spoke to his Russian counterpart, Defence Minister Sergei K. Shoigu, and made sure that both countries’ military forces should avoid running into each other while fighting in War-stricken Syria.

As U.S. continues to conduct airstrikes in Syria targeting ISIS militants, Russia has been intensifying its military presence in the country. The Russians have sent tanks, other equipment, marines and now combat aircraft to their new military hub near Latakia in western Syria, reported the New York Times. Hence, it is very important that both countries coordinate their military presence to avoid accidental encounters.

Both the defence ministers had extensively discussed about mechanisms for “deconfliction in Syria,” confirmed Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook. According to CNN , Shoigu has told Carter that building their military base in Syria, which has been aimed at providing support to the Assad regime, was "defensive in nature.”

According to an intelligence official, this would be Russia’s major military expedition outside Moscow since the war in Afghanistan. "A challenge for Russia is maintaining a presence on the ground may require a robust force that could come in direct combat with various forces in the region,” the intelligence official was quoted by CNN as saying.

However, Russia’s intentions are still far from being understood. The initial signs reflect the country’s interest to focus on providing air support to Syrian security forces, which are loyal to the president, and to humanitarian relief operations.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that Russia’s military moves were directed against the ISIS after speaking to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday. "I'm not taking that at face value, because we look at the type of airplanes or the type of munitions and so forth, and it obviously raises much more serious questions about what is happening," Kerry told reporters

Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said talks between U.S. and Russia did not progress much and discussions on military matters in Syria “still remain on hold."

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