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ALEPPO, Syria — The Syrian authorities forces, beneath the supervision of Russian forces, carried out in early October numerous navy coaching workout routines within the mountainous areas within the countryside of Latakia province, adjoining to Idlib in northwestern Syria.
Earlier, comparable navy workout routines have been carried out within the east of the capital Damascus.
The Syrian Protection Ministry stated in an Oct. 10 Fb submit that the navy workout routines have been held within the presence of the chief of the Common Workers of the Syrian military, Gen. Abdul Karim Mahmoud Ibrahim, and the commander of the Russian forces working in Syria, Gen. Aleksandr Chaiko, in addition to a number of senior Syrian military officers and Russian officers.
It continued, “The workout routines lasted for a number of days in cooperation with the Russian forces working in Syria. The forces carried out a tactical operational mission utilizing dwell ammunition that simulates the actual fight situations in mountainous areas, rugged terrain and forests.”
A navy supply near the Syrian authorities forces advised Al-Monitor on situation of anonymity, “In the course of the navy workout routines, numerous weapons and navy automobiles have been used, together with [armored] vehicles, bikes, artillery, rocket launchers, warplanes and helicopters.”
He added, “The workout routines occurred within the Salma space within the northern countryside of Latakia, particularly within the mountainous space in Marj Khokha and in villages within the countryside of the Salma space, which is sort of empty of residents as a result of it’s near the strains of contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham [HTS], which is predicated in Idlib, its stronghold.”
The supply defined, “The workout routines simulated a floor navy operation waged by the Syrian military and its allies in opposition to HTS and the opposition factions entrenched within the mountainous areas of Latakia countryside and within the southwest of Idlib province.”
Opposition circles worry that the Russian coaching of the Syrian authorities forces on the outskirts of Idlib is a part of preparations for a brand new navy operation to grab new areas in northwestern Syria.
Col. Mustafa Bakour, an officer within the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Military (FSA) who is predicated in Idlib, advised Al-Monitor, “For the reason that starting of the Russian invasion of Syria, the Russian forces have constantly labored to lift the extent of fight readiness of the Assad militias, and to occupy the liberated areas and return them beneath Syrian authority.”
He famous, “It’s on this context that the Russian forces perform joint navy workout routines and maneuvers now and again.”
Bakour stated, “These workout routines carry many messages, an important of which is that Russia, regardless of the painful blows it has obtained in Ukraine, remains to be sturdy and in charge of the scenario in Syria, which it considers a complicated base within the Center East.”
He famous, “Additionally the workout routines close to the areas the place the FSA and the opposition forces are current are aimed toward placing stress on Turkey and the opposition, and it’s additional proof of Russia’s plan to finish what it had began greater than seven years in the past to reestablish Assad’s authority over the rest of the liberated space.”
Bakour added, “This isn’t one thing the Russians cover, their statements. This is the reason I consider there’s a risk that these workout routines purpose to launch a navy operation later.”
In the beginning of October, the commander of the Syrian forces’ Fourth Armored Division, Maher al-Assad, the brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, appeared alongside Chaiko, throughout navy maneuvers of the federal government forces east of Damascus.
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