Russia sends anti-aircraft missiles to Syria
According to Russian Air Force commander, Russia has sent anti-aircraft missiles to Syria to protect its jets involved in airstrikes against IS militants.
Russia has been carrying out airstrikes on Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters, and other opposition groups, in Syria since the end of September at the request of President Bashar Assad, Russia's long-term ally.
Russian officials have insisted that their military involvement in Syria will be limited to an air force operation.
As reported earlier by Russian RIA news agency, a FSA delegation had agreed to meet Moscow’s foreign and defence ministry officials next week in Abu Dhabi.
But representatives of four Free Syrian Army rebel groups have dismissed a report claiming they would meet Russian officials to discuss fighting Islamic State militants.
It comes after the Kremlin announced its sending missile systems to Syria to protect its forces and possible hijacking of its jets.
The United States’ top diplomat to Europe, Victoria Nuland, says Russia’s expanding operations means it has “a lot of people outside the wire”
“We have limited our own military cooperation with Russia to the most basic aviation de-confliction procedures to protect our own aircrews. What would positive cooperation by Russia look like? First, Russia would turn its guns on ISIL and stop the carnage in and around Syria’s western cities,” said Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.
US officials say despite the Russian air strikes, the offensives have failed to make significant advances.