Syria conflict: Russia to 'continue Assad military aid'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged
continued military support for Syria's Bashar al-
Assad despite growing concerns over Moscow's
role in the war.
Mr Putin urged other countries to join Russia in
sending "military-technical assistance".
He said the flow of refugees to Europe would have
been "even bigger" without Russian support for
Syria's government.
But the White House said Russia's support for
President Assad was "counterproductive".
The US would prefer to see more "constructive
engagement" from Russia with the coalition against
so-called Islamic State (IS), spokesman Josh
Earnest said.
Moscow has been a key ally of Mr Assad
throughout the bloody civil war, which began in
2011.
It says military equipment is being sent to Syria to
help the government combat IS.
Refugees
President Putin said on Tuesday: "We support the
government of Syria… in countering the terrorist
aggression.
"We provide and will continue to provide it with the
necessary military technical assistance. And we
urge other countries to join us."
Russia's horizons extend beyond President Assad -
Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence correspondent
Russia's backing for Mr Assad should be seen not
as a vote of confidence in Syria's embattled
president but as an investment in a country where
Russia believes it can play out its foreign-policy
role.
Indeed Mr Putin's military deployments signal that
he will not let the Assad regime fall. This does not
mean Mr Assad will be there forever.
Russian diplomacy is working in tandem with its
military policy, exploring all avenues for reaching
some sort of interim deal in which Mr Assad might
stay on, at least for the time being.
But Russia's horizons in Syria probably extend well
beyond Mr Assad's active presence - a reflection
of Russia's concerns about militant Islam and
wider trends in the region, and also its belief that
Western remedies in the Middle East have been an
unmitigated disaster.
Russia sends signal over future role
Speaking at defence summit in Tajikistan, Mr Putin
also said the situation in Syria would have been
"worse than in Libya" had Russia not been
supporting its leadership.
European countries have been struggling to cope
with thousands of people arriving at their borders
after fleeing the conflict.
'Planning air base'
President Putin's comments come after the US
expressed concern at Russia's recent movements
near Syria's coastal city of Latakia.
Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said on Monday
that a steady flow of people and equipment
suggested that Moscow was planning to establish a
"forward air operating base" at an airport there.
Last week, officials in Washington quoted by
Reuters said Moscow had sent more aircraft and
two tank landing ships to Russia's naval base in the
Syrian coastal city of Tartus.
They also said a small number of naval infantry
forces had been deployed.
Correspondents say US officials fear that the
stepped-up Russian support will strengthen the
Syrian government at a time when it has been
losing on the battlefield and will complicate efforts
to find a political solution.
Russia has denied building up their presence in
Syria, although Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said
last week that Russia would send more help to
Syria if requested.
The war between President Assad's regime and
various rebel groups has so far killed at least
240,000 people and displaced millions.
Syrian and Russian state media said on Saturday
that two Russian cargo planes with 80 tonnes of
humanitarian aid had landed at Latakia - a
stronghold of President Assad.
Russia's defence ministry said the plane was
carrying materials for setting up a tent camp for
refugees.