Contents tagged with Syria

  • Kyiv: Russia deploying Syrian mercenaries in 'meat grinder' assaults in Luhansk

    Syrian mercenaries sent by Russia to conduct what have been termed "meat grinder" assaults in the Luhansk region. Photo: GUR.

    War-ravaged Syria has become a primary source for Russia's recruitment of men for combat in Ukraine, as reported by the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine.

    These mercenaries are lured with promises of Russian passports and paid work, but few return home.

    The plight of Syrian mercenaries can be seen through the stories of Mohamed Mansur and …

  • Ukrainian Special Forces target Russian base in Syria, destroy key military assets

    A Ukrainian assault team hit Russian military positions on a base in Syria, an airfield that has been under Russian control since 2015 and frequently used for military purposes, including training and dispatching foreign mercenaries to Ukraine.

    In a complex operation by Ukrainian special forces at the end of July 2024, the elite squad launched a strike on Russian military positions in Syria, reports Kyiv Post, citing its sources.

    The news outlet claims to have obtained exclusive videos and …

  • Putin hosts Assad amid anniversary of Syrian-Russian diplomatic relations

    Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Kremlin's press service reports. As emphasized by the Syrian guest, his visit coincides with the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Russian Federation.

    "Honorable Mr. President, I am very glad to see you," Putin greeted Assad. "We have an opportunity to discuss the full spectrum of our relations. It has been a long time since we've met. I'm very …

  • Ukrainian intelligence: Russia actively recruiting Syrian mercenaries for war in Ukraine

    Around a thousand mercenaries have undergone training in Syria, before being granted Russian citizenship in Yakutia and dispatched to Ukraine, reports the Ukrainian military intelligence.

    The arrival of mercenaries from Syria to Yakutia for further deployment to Ukraine marks a concerning development. The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (GUR MO) released a video showing Syrian trainees near Aleppo and the Kuweires airbase joyfully displaying Russian passports, …

  • Russia and Syria begin joint military exercises

    Today, Russian-Syrian joint exercises will begin in Syria.

    "The exercises will last six days. During these drills, the parties will work out joint actions of aircraft, air defense forces and electronic warfare in repelling air attacks, " Russian news agency TASS quotes the deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria, Rear Admiral Oleg Gurinov.

    Gurinov noted that during the day there were nine violations of Syrian airspace. According to him, the …

  • After unsuccessful rebellion Prigozhin loses all his investments in Syria

    "There are no more Wagner fighters in Syria," anonymous sources in the Syrian government told Russian news agency Russia Today. According to them, all Wagner activities have also been terminated in Syria.

    Syrian officials claim that now in the territories controlled by Damascus, only large Russian state-owned companies and units of the Russian regular army operate. Their main base is at the Khmeimim airport. Russia Today notes that Russian investigators interrogated the military in Khmeimim, …

  • Kremlin: war in Ukraine did not impact number of Russian troops and weapons in Syria

    Moscow has not reduced the number of troops in Syria because of the war in Ukraine, said the special representative of the Russian president for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev .

    "No, it did not decrease," Lavrentyev said in an interview with RIA Novosti, speaking about the number of Russian troops. “If someone thinks that there has been some decrease in the number of troops, I want to assure you that this is not the case both in terms of the number of equipment that is stationed there, air …

  • Israeli media: Russia is moving its troops from Syria to Ukraine

    Russia has begun withdrawal of its armed forces from Syria. The troops are being moved to three Syrian airports for further deployment to Ukraine.

    Russia is handing over its military bases to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, reports the Israeli website Debka, citing its sources.

    Among them are Khmeimim airbase, Qamishli, Deir ez-Zor and T4 airbase, located in the Syrian province of Homs.

    The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has already …

  • Kyiv: Assad promises Putin 40,000 Syrian mercenaries will be sent to Ukraine

    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has promised Russian president Vladimir Putin to provide 40,000 fighters for the war in Ukraine, reports the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

    According to intelligence reports, the command of the Russian military base in Khmeimim airbase was instructed to send up to 300 militants to Ukraine every day. On March 15, 150 mercenaries left this base for the Russian Federation.

    This Russian base in Syria is expected to be used to move …

  • Ukrainian MoD says Russia has recruited more than 1000 Syrian mercenaries to fight in Ukraine

    The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claims approximately 400 Syrian mercenaries have arrived in Russia and Belarus, with another 600 Syrians already signed up to fight in Ukraine.

    In a Facebook post, the Ministry wrote, “Russian occupiers continue to accumulate reserves on their territory for the war against Ukraine. Squads of mercenaries are formed, who are ready to perform criminal orders of Russian commanders for a reward. According to the information available, mercenaries recruitment …