Russian President Vladimir Putin (R), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem (back to camera) attend a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, June 29, 2015. REUTERS/ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/RIA NOVOSTI/KREMLIN
Reuters: Exclusive: Russian troops join combat in Syria - sources
Russian forces have begun participating in military operations in Syria in support of government troops, three Lebanese sources familiar with the political and military situation there said on Wednesday.
The sources, speaking to Reuters on condition they not be identified, gave the most forthright account yet from the region of what U.S. officials say appears to be a new military buildup by Moscow, one of President Bashar al-Assad's main allies, though one of the sources said the numbers of Russians involved so far were small.
Two U.S. officials said Russia has sent two tank landing ships and additional aircraft to Syria in the past day or so and has deployed a small number of naval infantry forces.
WNU Editor: I have read reports on Russian social media that Russian soldiers embedded with Syrian soldiers have found themselves engaged in military combat .... which is not surprising in view of how fluid the situation is in Syria and how these advisers may find themselves in the middle of a battle. But Russian soldiers initiating and directly participating in attacks with Syrian soldiers against rebel positions .... if true this is a new and ominous development.
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