With tensions rising in
the Middle East, now come reports that Russia is drastically increasing its
presence in Syria. According to The Blaze:
Russian forces are
expanding the tarmac of a major airport in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia,
a stronghold of President Bashar Assad and his minority sect, a prominent
Syrian monitoring group said Sunday.
The report comes amid
rising concern among U.S. officials of increased Russian military activity in
Syria.
President Barack Obama
cast the buildup as an effort to prop up the country’s embattled leader,
warning Moscow against doubling down on Assad.
Russia, a longtime backer
of Syria’s government, denies it’s trying to bolster Assad and says its
increased military activity is part of the international effort to defeat the
Islamic State group which has wreaked havoc in Syria and Iraq.
On Sunday, the Russian
foreign minister called for the international community to include the Syrian
government in efforts to fight IS.
Syria has been the center
of a middle-east struggle for the last several years. Many thought the US and
its allies might invade by now. With Russia building a more permanent airbase,
the stakes are raised.
Invading Syria and just
the Syrian army is one thing the allies could do – think Iraq. Sure, they could
conquer quickly, but holding the country for any period of time would be costly
in both blood and treasure.
Now, with Russia, invading
Syria raises the specter of world war. Tension is high, now the stakes have
gotten even higher.
What do you think? Is
Russia’s move provocative or defensive? Leave a comment with your thoughts
below.
http://liberty247.net/russian-is-greatly-expanding-its-presence-in-this-critical-country/
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