Russia may set up naval, air and ground base in Syria

MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. Russia’s General Staff does not rule out creating a military base in Syria with the naval, air and ground components, Chief of the Main Operations Department of the Russian General Staff Col.-Gen. Andrei Kartapolov said on Friday. "I would rather talk about creating one Russian military base. This will be one base to comprise the naval, air and ground components," he said in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda daily. Russia currently has a naval supply and maintenance facility at Tartus in Syria. Also, the Russian Aerospace Force has a grouping of over 50 aircraft and helicopters at the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia. Russian aircraft have been delivering pinpointed air strikes against the Islamic State terrorist grouping banned in Russia since September 30. Russia has no plans to participate in the ground operation in Syria. Read more