Russia steps up military engagement in Syria

A Russian fighter jet ready to be loaded with ammunition at Hemeimeem Air Base in Syria (illustrative image).

AP - Vadim Savitsky

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Russia has been increasing its military activity in Syria for several days and takes care to show it.

Russian planes have carried out raids against Islamic State positions in the provinces of Hama and Homs in the past 48 hours.

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With our correspondent in the region,

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) said on Thursday that the Russian air force had carried out more than 150 raids against positions

in the desert region of central

since the beginning of June .

These strikes come as reports of a reduction in the Russian military presence in Syria due to the war in Ukraine are increasing.

This week, the Russian army sent reinforcements of men and military vehicles overland to northeastern Syria, where government troops have positions in this region largely controlled by Kurdish forces.

This Thursday, Russian soldiers inspected the site of an alleged attack carried out by a Turkish drone in the city of Qamishli, in the north-east of the country.

Concordant sources ensure that the Russian naval and air bases of Tartous and

, in the west of the country, have not been stripped.

However, the troops deployed there face logistical problems due to Turkey's closure of the Bosphorus crossing to warships.

As a result, supply lines for Russian troops in Syria have become longer and more expensive.

On the other hand, in the south of the country, the Russian military police seem to have reduced their presence.

And that worries Jordan, which fears a destabilization of the Syrian provinces bordering the Hashemite kingdom.

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• Syria

• Russia