Russian General Staff noted a large deployment of Turkish troops to the Syrian border
On Monday, January 25, rejecting the Turkish claim that Russia is establishing a new airbase in Qamishli of Syria, Russia’s Defense Ministry accused Turkey of military buildup on the Syrian border.
Recently Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told to the media that Russia was establishing a base in Qamishli. It was reported that Erdogan “expressed alarm” after 200 Russian personnel were allegedly observed strengthening the runway on the Syrian border with Turkey.
By dismissing the reports as “a complete farce,” Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said that the allegations were “an awkward attempt to provide a cover-up for the large deployment of Turkish troops to the Syrian border close to Qamishli.
“There are no ‘new’ airbases or additional ‘jump-up bases’ for Russian military aircraft in the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as no plans to create any,” Igor Konashenkov said.
He also argued that Russian fighter jets in Syria’s coastal western province of Latakia can reach any location in the country in half an hour, “so there is no need for any additional base.”
The military’s general staff Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi said earlier that Russian warplanes had been flying between 70 and 100 sorties daily over the past few days to provide air support for the Syrian army’s operations against terrorists.
Russia began airstrikes against terrorist positions in Syria on September 30 upon a request by the Syrian government.
The Syrian war which was started in March 2011, has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 260,000 people and left over one million injured. According to an UN report 12.2 million people including 5.6 million children are in dire need of humanitarian assistance Syria.