Media learned of the reason for increased pressure on Moscow over Syria – RBC

Armed rebel in Aleppo, Syria

Photo: Global Look Press

The intensity of military supplies from the Russian government of Bashar al-Assad, whose army is fighting with the opposition and banned Russian group “Islamic State” in August 2015 increased. About this newspaper “Vedomosti” told several sources in the military-industrial complex. That’s what caused increased pressure on Moscow by the United States and Europe, said the source edition.

The source also told the newspaper that the earlier flights of aircraft with a cargo for Syria through Bulgaria were quite rare – once in several weeks. After Bulgaria refused to allow aircraft deliveries will be carried out via Iran and Iraq.

On Tuesday, September 8, Bulgaria refused to let two Russian aircraft with a cargo for Syria, and previously the United States asked Greece to close its airspace to Russian flight to Syria.

A spokesman for the Washington administration Josh Ernest said on September 4 that the White House is closely following the Russian activity in Syria.

 “Any military support to the [Syrian President Bashar] Assad for any purpose, whether in the form of military personnel, the supply of aircraft, weapons and financing, is destabilizing and counterproductive,” – said he then.

On Saturday, September 5, the US Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed concern over reports on the strengthening of the Russian military presence in Syria. Earlier, there were reports about the possible involvement of the Russian military in the Syrian conflict.

Official Moscow stated that military supplies to Syria are legitimate and Russia has never concealed the fact that they are carried out.

The shortest flight path from Russia to Syria is over the territory of Turkey. In October 2012, the Turkish Air Force was forced to land in Ankara Syrian airliner Airbus A320, en route from Moscow to Damascus. According to Erdogan, the then prime minister of Turkey, on board the detained aircraft is military equipment of Russian production.

As a result of the search were found and confiscated parts to the station, which, according to the Turkish authorities were cargo military purposes. Then the liner was allowed to continue flying.