MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia is not setting up a military base in Syria’s Latakia as Russian troops are not engaged in combat in the country, a military-diplomatic source told RIA Novosti on Friday.
“We do not need such a base now; we are not fighting in Syria. Our specialists are just training [Syrian forces] to operate Russian military equipment,” the source said commenting on the reports in Western media saying Russia is establishing a military base where Russia aircraft and helicopters have already been deployed.
The source reiterated the statement made by Nikolai Bogdanovsky, first deputy head of Russia’s general staff, earlier this month saying there were no such plans so far.
“So far is the key word here, but if the situation changes, we can make another decision,” the source said.
He added that at the moment Russia supplies to the Syrian army primary weapons for the land forces such as BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launchers, heavy short-range multiple rocket launchers and small arms.
Russia has been engaged in international efforts to solve the ongoing civil war in Syria, as well as providing humanitarian aid to people in the conflict-torn country and military equipment to support the country's army in its fight against terrorist groups.
