Russia Deploys Ground Troops In Syria [REPORT]

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Russia Deploys Ground Troops In Syria [REPORT]

By Brinda Banerjee
News reports coming out of Syria suggest that Russia has deployed ground troops to the country. The reports have not been substantiated as yet, but indicate that Moscow has authorized Russian troops to participate in the action on the ground in Syria. So far, Russia’s involvement in the Syrian conflict has been limited to the form of aid to Damascus and air strikes as of September 30, 2015.

A news piece from the Kuwait-based Alrai Mediagroup claims that Moscow has sent in ground troops to Syria to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in the country.

According to the said report, the Russian Armed Forces have been supplying protection for their T-90 tanks on the ground. It is reported that the Russian Air Force SU-25M jet is being used to provide aerial cover and assistance to the troops on the ground. It has been alleged that the Russian military has also specifically targeted known rebel strongholds in Idlib and Latakia.

The original report claims that the Russian infantry targeted the Syrian Takfeery opposition and has managed to take over an important hill following five hours of fighting against the enemy forces. The report by the Kuwaiti agency states that the Russian ground troops have made impressive headway in a short span of time, capturing several strategically important places; in doing so, the forces on the ground are believed to have dealt a major blow against the rebel forces, who are now said to be fleeing from the battalions. It is not known yet whether the Russian military troops have sustained any casualties.

A translation of the original report by the Alrai Mediagroup quotes a senior official as having said, “Russian live maneuver required the use of 130mm artillery battalion backed by a heavy air bombardment to the hill before the advance of the infantry as a test of the troops’ readiness and to raise the efficiency of engagement of the Russian forces in further battles on the Syrian soil against terrorists. Russia is also showing the real evolution and strength of its troops that did not participate in real battle for many years. The Syrian forces and allies provided only logistic support without participating to the battle as requested by the Russian officers. Many terrorists were killed and left behind in the battlefield.”

Would Russia Really Send Ground Troops To Syria?

The news that Russia has deployed ground troops to Syria comes as something of a surprise because so far, Russian President Vladimir Putin has always maintained that while Russia supports Syria, it has no intention of sending in ground combat forces to the region. The war in Syria is ostensibly a civil war, with the added dimension of a conflict with the Islamic State; while the global community as a whole is keen to eradicate ISIS, direct engagement in the internal conflict is an option most modern-day states are not likely to exercise for fear of breaching ideals of sovereignty and democratic peace.

If the news of Russian ground troops acting on the ground in Syria is true, it could prove to be a turning point in international relations and the debate on sovereignty, collective defence and interventionism (both invited and otherwise). Also, if it is established that Moscow has sent in Russian military ground forces to Syria, security experts will no doubt be keen to determine whether the development marks a policy change in the Russian front or amounts to a unique case only.

Russia Remains Syria’s Greatest Ally

Most of the Western world has voiced its disapproval for President Assad’s regime in Damascus, citing human rights violations and governmental infractions as cause to replace the current government with a new, democratically elected administration. Syria, for the most part, has found itself fairly isolated by the global community in the four long years since its civil war started.

Russia continues to be Syria’s greatest supporter and has championed the cause of President Assad’s government to other governments. Even as the Western world, especially in the wake of the Paris terror attacks, comes together to battle ISIS, Syria has appreciated Russian support more so than any other. The Assad administration has continued to be critical of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, claiming that the effort has only proved to undermine the government and create more civil unrest. On the other hand, Russia’s airstrikes have been welcomed and observer agencies monitoring the conflict share that the Syrian troops on the ground seem reenergized by the Russian intervention.

Russia has reportedly also magnified its naval presence in the region, sending in reinforcements to the Mediterranean Sea. Russia is supposedly deploying its naval fleet along the Syrian coast in collaboration with Hezbollah and the Iranian state forces.

Washington Says Russia Has Sent Tanks To Syria

In September this year, many U.S. government officials said that Washington has reason to believe Moscow has placed around six Russian T-90 tanks at an airfield in Latakia, Syria. At the time, the extent to which Russia was willing to be directly involved in the Syrian conflict was unknown and so the revelation raised several questions as to what Moscow’s intentions were.

The Pentagon shared the view that the Russian tanks had been positioned in a manner that suggested that Moscow intends to administer a forward air operating base in the country. Captain Jeff Davis, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, said at the time, “We have seen movement of people and things that would indicate that they plan to use that base there, south of Latakia, as a forward air operating base.”

The assertions were denied by Syria; Riad Haddad, the Syrian Ambassador to Moscow, rubbished the U.S.’ claims and called the same “a lie”. Denying reports of Russian deployment, the Syrian official said, “We have been cooperating with Russia for 30-40 years in various areas, including the military sphere. Yes, we receive arms, military equipment, all this is done in line with agreements sealed between our countries. But the talk of your (Russian) troop presence on the Syrian territory is a lie spread by Western countries, the United States.”

President Assad Claims The Syrian Situation Is Improving

President Assad has announced that the Syrian state forces are gaining on “nearly every front” and have made considerable progress in the last few weeks. President Assad has credited Russia for being instrumental in the development, acknowledging that the same has been helped along by Moscow’s decision to authorize airstrikes on September 30, 2015.

Speaking to the Hong Kong-based broadcaster Phoenix Television, President Assad shared that Syria has “improved in a very good way” following Russia’s intervention. “Now I can say that the army is making advancement in nearly every front… in many different directions and areas on the Syrian ground,” President Assad said.

The Syrian head of state did touch upon the issue of battling ISIS, saying that the situation in Syria cannot be completely corrected without “defeating terrorism”. Talking about what might be in store for Syria in the future in terms of political governance and possible elections, the president said, “We need to make the dialogue, but the concrete steps should follow at least a major defeat of the terrorists and the government takes control of a major area that has been captured by the terrorists.”

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