Russia sends special forces, counterterrorism units to Syria
By Carlo Munoz - 03/19/12 03:04 PM ET
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<!-- JoomlaWorks "Disqus Comment System for Joomla!" Plugin (v2.2) starts here -->Moscow has sent elite units of Russian marines and special-operations forces to Syria to conduct "anti-terrorism" missions in the country, according to reports by Al Arabiya.
The troops were reportedly aboard two Russian warships that arrived at the country's naval base in the Syrian port city of Tartus on Monday, the news agency reports.
The ships joined up with ?a Russian naval reconnaissance and surveillance ship" already anchored in Tartus, the report adds, citing sources within opposition forces in Syria.
The Russian base in Tartus is the country's only naval installation outside the borders of the former Soviet Union. A Russian naval squadron conducted a port visit in January, just as violence between rebel forces and government troops loyal to Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad was coming to a head.
The port call was interpreted by many regional observers as a show of support by Moscow for the Assad regime.
Russian military advisers are currently stationed in the country to help train Syrian troops. It is unclear exactly how many Russian troops are now on Syrian soil due to the new deployment.
Last Friday, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov dismissed claims that Moscow would send special-operations units to Syria to support Assad's crackdown on rebel forces. ?There are no [Russian] special forces with rifles and grenade launchers running around,? he told The Associated Press.
News of the troops' arrival comes a week after a group of lawmakers pressed the Pentagon to cut ties with a Russian weapons maker accused of providing arms to the Syrian government.
Led by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), the bipartisan group of 17 senators urged DOD to end all business with the Russian-based defense firm Rosoboronexport.
The company is currently under contract with the Pentagon to supply 21 Mi-17 helicopters to the Afghan National Security Forces, at a cost of $375 million.
?U.S. taxpayers should not be put in a position where they are indirectly subsidizing the mass murder of Syrian civilians,? the senators wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta last Monday.
"We urge you to use all available leverage to press Russia and Russian entities to end their support of the Assad regime ... which is within your authority as Secretary of Defense," they added.
Some on Capitol Hill have called for direct action by the United States to support the Syrian rebels. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) have led the charge to supply anti-government forces with American arms and provide air cover with U.S. warplanes.
However, many rank-and-file Republicans have been hesitant to back McCain's call for support. Senate lawmakers are reluctant to get involved militarily in Syria, fearing the United States could be drawn into another protracted conflict in the Middle East.
By Carlo Munoz - 03/19/12 03:04 PM ET
<input id="fm-c-and-w-article" value="216741" type="hidden"><input id="fm-c-and-w-start" type="hidden">
<!-- JoomlaWorks "Disqus Comment System for Joomla!" Plugin (v2.2) starts here -->Moscow has sent elite units of Russian marines and special-operations forces to Syria to conduct "anti-terrorism" missions in the country, according to reports by Al Arabiya.
The troops were reportedly aboard two Russian warships that arrived at the country's naval base in the Syrian port city of Tartus on Monday, the news agency reports.
The ships joined up with ?a Russian naval reconnaissance and surveillance ship" already anchored in Tartus, the report adds, citing sources within opposition forces in Syria.
The Russian base in Tartus is the country's only naval installation outside the borders of the former Soviet Union. A Russian naval squadron conducted a port visit in January, just as violence between rebel forces and government troops loyal to Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad was coming to a head.
The port call was interpreted by many regional observers as a show of support by Moscow for the Assad regime.
Russian military advisers are currently stationed in the country to help train Syrian troops. It is unclear exactly how many Russian troops are now on Syrian soil due to the new deployment.
Last Friday, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov dismissed claims that Moscow would send special-operations units to Syria to support Assad's crackdown on rebel forces. ?There are no [Russian] special forces with rifles and grenade launchers running around,? he told The Associated Press.
News of the troops' arrival comes a week after a group of lawmakers pressed the Pentagon to cut ties with a Russian weapons maker accused of providing arms to the Syrian government.
Led by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), the bipartisan group of 17 senators urged DOD to end all business with the Russian-based defense firm Rosoboronexport.
The company is currently under contract with the Pentagon to supply 21 Mi-17 helicopters to the Afghan National Security Forces, at a cost of $375 million.
?U.S. taxpayers should not be put in a position where they are indirectly subsidizing the mass murder of Syrian civilians,? the senators wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta last Monday.
"We urge you to use all available leverage to press Russia and Russian entities to end their support of the Assad regime ... which is within your authority as Secretary of Defense," they added.
Some on Capitol Hill have called for direct action by the United States to support the Syrian rebels. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) have led the charge to supply anti-government forces with American arms and provide air cover with U.S. warplanes.
However, many rank-and-file Republicans have been hesitant to back McCain's call for support. Senate lawmakers are reluctant to get involved militarily in Syria, fearing the United States could be drawn into another protracted conflict in the Middle East.
