Syrian army has received a new batch of Russian weapons
DAMASCUS, (BM) – The Syrian army has received a new set of Russian weapons, BulgarianMilitary.com has learned. The information comes from the Lebanese news agency Al-Masdar News and the Russian online media Aviapro. However, the two media have a discrepancy in information.
Lebanese Al-Masdar News claims that a new batch of armored infantry vehicles has arrived in Syria and go already into service to the Syrian Arab Army. It’s about the Soviet BMP-1, which is an amphibious infantry landing combat vehicle. This armored vehicle combines the functionality of a lightly armored personnel carrier and a tank. Production of the BMP-1 began as far back as 1966.
At the same time, the Russian news agency Aviapro confirms this news. But he added that the Syrian Arab Army had received additional new Russian MiG-29 fighters. As Russian journalists note, it is unclear precisely what update of the Syrian army is in question. However, they claim that Syria has received a significant amount of Russian MiG-29 fighters and two strategic Su-24 bombers in recent months.
We know for sure that Bashar al-Assad’s army received six upgraded MiG-29s in May last year (2020-ed.). In June of that year, Russia delivered the second batch of upgraded Syrian MiG-29 fighters. Some of them later took part in hostilities against the Turkish army and pro-Turkish soldiers throughout the country. That same year, the Syrian military lost one of its fighters near a military base in Poms. The pilot died.
Aviapro also claims that the Syrian army may have received an additional shipment of attacking Russian helicopters. There is no official statement from the Syrian government, nor confirmation of the Syrian news agency SANA deliveries.
Are arms shipments still traveling to Syria?
The short answer is yes. Just 24 hours ago, we announced that a new Russian landing ship had crossed the Bosphorus in the Mediterranean’s direction and the naval base at Tartus. Turkish observer of traffic in the Bosphorus Yoruk Isik has taken several pictures of the Russian ship Saratov.
Some footage shows Russian soldiers aboard the ship. The ship is probably be carrying various materials, supplies, and even weapon systems. According to unconfirmed information, the supply destination is the Russian base in Tel Tamer, partially destroyed a few days ago after an artillery attack by the Turkish armed forces in the area.
However, part of the supply destination could be the Syrian Arab Army. Yet, this information is still not confirmed.
War in Syria
In February, Turkey lost at least 62 troops killed in Syria, nearly 100 soldiers were wounded, dozens of Turkish armored vehicles were destroyed and more than ten drones, including drone, were shot down. Washington has repeatedly accused Moscow of involvement in the deaths of Turkish soldiers, Russia rejects these allegations.
In early March, the presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, concluded an agreement according to which a ceasefire came into force in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad later said that if the US and Turkish military did not leave the country, Damascus would be able to use force.
The reason for the Russian-Turkish negotiations was a sharp aggravation of the situation in Idlib, where in January a large-scale offensive by the Syrian army against the positions of the armed opposition and terrorists began.
Government forces recaptured nearly half of the Idlib de-escalation zone and left behind a number of Turkish observation posts. After that, Ankara sharply increased its military contingent in the region and launched the operation “Spring Shield” to push the Syrian troops. Turkey is also supported by militants loyal to it.
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