US NATO express concern about Russian military in Syria

(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) The United States and NATO have reacted with concern to reports of increased Russian military presence in Syria.

A senior U.S. defense official told VOA that Russia has been airlifting military supplies to Syria calling such activities “unhelpful.”

State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters he did not have confirmation of a Russian buildup but that Russia's "intent here is unclear." He said Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the issue by telephone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"He reiterated our concern about these report of Russian military activities -- or buildup if you will -- in Syria and made it very clear our view that if true and if borne out those reports would be -- could lead to greater violence and more even more instability in Syria" Kirby said.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz echoed those concerns in his comments to reporters on Wednesday.

"We've made clear that it would be unconscionable for any party including Russia to provide any support to the Assad regime” Schultz said.

In Prague NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed similar concern about reported Russian deployments of military personnel and aircraft to Syria.

"That will not contribute to solving the conflict" Stoltenberg said. "I think it is important to now support all efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement Wednesday that "Russian military experts" are in Syria to help its military master the use of Russian weaponry and other equipment.

Russia she said has never made a secret of its "military-technical cooperation" with Syria and has "long provided arms and military equipment in accordance with existing bilateral contracts."

Zakharova said the Russian equipment delivered to Syria's army is designed "to counter the terrorist threat that has reached unprecedented heights in Syria and in neighboring Iraq."

Reuters reported on Wednesday that according to three informed Lebanese sources Russian forces have started participating in military operations supporting government troops in Syria. The news agency quoted one of the unnamed sources as saying only a "small" number of Russians are currently involved in these operations.

Meanwhile Russia's state news agency Tass on Wednesday quoted a spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Tehran as saying Iran had granted permission for Russian aircraft headed to Syria to fly over Iranian territory.

On Tuesday Bulgaria refused permission for Russian planes to use its airspace because of doubts about their cargo. On Wednesday it said it would allow Russian supply flights to Syria to use its airspace only if Moscow allowed the planes' cargo to be inspected at a Bulgarian airport.

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi told a television station owned by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah the reports of increased Russian military involvement in Syria were "concocted in Western intelligence circles."