Russia Warns Of Provocations Against Its Forces In Syria

FILE IMAGE: Russian Military Police service members are in Syria

The command of the Russian military group in Syria is ready to take decisive actions and will not allow any provocations against its troops, Rear Admiral Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation in Syria, warned on August 3.

The commander said that militants are ramping up the production of weapons and drones in the northwestern region of Greater Idlib and the number of drone flights at the frontline is increasing.

“The Russian side is stressing that it will not allow any acts of incitement by illegal armed formations against Russian servicemen. The command of the Russian Armed Forces’ group in the Syrian Arab Republic is ready for the most decisive actions on protecting the lives of Syrian civilians as well as of Russian and Syrian servicemen,” Kulit said.

Militant leaders are also actively recruiting, the commander said, adding that the “intelligence is recording concentrations of militants in training camps.”

“We are urging the commanders of illegal armed formations to reject any acts of incitement and follow the path of a peaceful settlement of the conflict,” Kulit concluded.

Just a day earlier, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) shot down five armed drones that attempted to attack its positions in the northern and western countryside of Aleppo, where Russian troops are known to be present.

Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the de-facto ruler of Greater Idlib, have been manufacturing and operating drones for more than five years with help from some of its allies like the Turkistan Islamic Party. In recent months, the militants increased their attacks.

This was the second Russian warning this week. On August 2, the Russian Center for Reconciliation revealed information about a plot to launch suicide attacks against Russian military facilities and patrols in Syria.

Any provocations against the Russian military group in Syria will likely lead to a serious escalation, especially in Greater Idlib where a ceasefire brokered more than three years ago could collapse.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

• Syrian Army Shot Down Five Armed Drones Over Western, Northern Aleppo (Photos)
• SDF Commander, Three Fighters Killed In Turkish Drone Strike On Northeastern Syria (Video)