Russian Military Activity In Syria ‘Troubling,’ Says North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Head; Ready To

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned on Thursday of a “troubling escalation” in Russian military activity in Syria, as defence ministers held talks on Moscow’s dramatically expanded air campaign.

Stoltenberg also said the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was ready to deploy forces in key member Turkey if needed after Ankara complained about a series of airspace violations by Russian planes.

“In Syria, we have seen a troubling escalation of Russian military activities,” Stoltenberg told reporters as he went into a NATO defence ministers meeting dominated by the Syrian crisis.

“We will assess the latest developments and their implications for the security of the alliance,” the former Norwegian prime minister said.

“This is particularly relevant in view of the recent violations of NATO’s airspace by Russian aircraft,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Russian assault in Syria continued unabated.

Since September 30, Russia has been targeting Islamic State positions in Syria with aerial bombings, according to Russian and Syrian officials.

“Today, the Syrian Arab armed forces began a wide-ranging attack with the aim of eliminating the terrorist groups and liberating the areas and towns that suffered from their scourge and crimes”, Ayoub said in rare televised remarks.

The USA administration believes it now has a better understanding at least of Putin’s main motive – to do whatever it takes to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “And the Russian Federation leaders have said it officially”. It also showed tanks and airstrikes. It was not immediately clear if the pilots were Russian or Syrian. Local media said the helicopter belonged to the Syrian government. Rebels have controlled areas on the highway since 2012.

It is unclear how his administration could have reacted differently with better intelligence, though advance word of Putin’s attack plans might have allowed USA officials to warn the moderate Syrian opposition that they could end up in Russia’s line of fire. Shoigu insisted the operation destroyed all the targets and did not launch any strikes upon civilian areas.

IS has taken advantage of the chaos that has engulfed Syria since an uprising began in March 2011 with protests against Assad’s regime.

Antonov said his ministry was ready to establish different types of working groups with any interested country to prevent new problems similar to the Russian aircraft’s violation of Turkish airspace.

Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said fourRussian navy ships in the Caspian launched 26 cruise missiles at Islamic State targets in Syria.

Observatory director Rami Abdurrahman said it is “the most intense fighting in months”.

“In Syria, we have seen a troubling escalation of Russian military activities”.