(Reporting by Faris al-Rifai; Translation by Yusra Ahmed)
In a deep valley near the village of Kaeb Ammar near the coastal city of Banias, a fortified Russian military base was built up years ago, activists told Zaman al-Wasl as local activists report an intense Russian deployment for forces and weapons in the mountainous base.
Activist Moataz Shaklab said on his Facebook page that members of Syrian regime intelligence and barriers prevent any Syrian from going down to the valley, but residents in the region said that they knew the existence of a Russian base at the bottom of the valley, and saw huge cars carrying weapons to the base over three days. They were private cars with Syrian p’ numbers, but the cars were easily distinguished that they were Russian.
A former soldier in the Higher Center for Scientific Research revealed some details about the mystery of the base, as he spent 3 months in the base for training.
Ayman al-Thakil, was the nickname the soldier chosen to himself, mentioned that the base is located near the city of Banias in a region known of valleys and rugged mountains close to the very small village called Koeeb or Kaeb Ammar.
Al-Thakil mentioned that the base had Russian and North Korean members and officers, and they were strictly ordered to avoid contacting or asking the officers for anything whatever small it was amid huge security tightening in the base and around.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama believes that holding military talks with Russia on Syria is an important next step and hopes they will take place very shortly, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.
Russia, which is building up a military presence in Syria, was quick to say that Moscow was also ready for talks with the United States.
During the period he spent in te base in 1999 the soldier mentioned that trucks used to come to the base loaded with equipment and machines covered with wood, and their job was to take off the piece wood, while the Russian and Korean officers used to transfer the equipment to other trucks and cover them with blankets. amid strict security cover by the Air Force Intelligence.
Because they were in their mandatory military service, they did not realize what was going on, and they did not dare to ask for anything, because they were afraid of arresting and prison.
The former soldier mentioned that intelligence at the time used to spread rumors about arresting some soldiers because they asked about some information, as a threatening method to prevent soldiers from looking for any information or talking about them.
The soldier mentioned that after finishing his service in the base, he was forced to sign and fingerprint an obligation to stay in the country and not to travel abroad for at least 5 years, and not to disclose the place of service for 15 years at least, as precautionary measures taken by the regime’s intelligence for all who serve in sensitive departments and bases.
The United States opposes Russia's support for Assad, and the Pentagon last year cut off high-level discussions with Moscow after its annexation of Crimea and intervention in Ukraine.
But Russia's buildup at Syria's Latakia airbase raises the possibility of air combat missions in Syrian airspace. Heavy Russian equipment, including tanks, helicopters and naval infantry forces, have been moved to Latakia, U.S. officials say.
Earlier, a Syrian military source said that troops had started to use new types of air and ground weapons supplied by Russia.
In a deep valley near the village of Kaeb Ammar near the coastal city of Banias, a fortified Russian military base was built up years ago, activists told Zaman al-Wasl as local activists report an intense Russian deployment for forces and weapons in the mountainous base.
Activist Moataz Shaklab said on his Facebook page that members of Syrian regime intelligence and barriers prevent any Syrian from going down to the valley, but residents in the region said that they knew the existence of a Russian base at the bottom of the valley, and saw huge cars carrying weapons to the base over three days. They were private cars with Syrian p’ numbers, but the cars were easily distinguished that they were Russian.
A former soldier in the Higher Center for Scientific Research revealed some details about the mystery of the base, as he spent 3 months in the base for training.
Ayman al-Thakil, was the nickname the soldier chosen to himself, mentioned that the base is located near the city of Banias in a region known of valleys and rugged mountains close to the very small village called Koeeb or Kaeb Ammar.
Al-Thakil mentioned that the base had Russian and North Korean members and officers, and they were strictly ordered to avoid contacting or asking the officers for anything whatever small it was amid huge security tightening in the base and around.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama believes that holding military talks with Russia on Syria is an important next step and hopes they will take place very shortly, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.
Russia, which is building up a military presence in Syria, was quick to say that Moscow was also ready for talks with the United States.
During the period he spent in te base in 1999 the soldier mentioned that trucks used to come to the base loaded with equipment and machines covered with wood, and their job was to take off the piece wood, while the Russian and Korean officers used to transfer the equipment to other trucks and cover them with blankets. amid strict security cover by the Air Force Intelligence.
Because they were in their mandatory military service, they did not realize what was going on, and they did not dare to ask for anything, because they were afraid of arresting and prison.
The former soldier mentioned that intelligence at the time used to spread rumors about arresting some soldiers because they asked about some information, as a threatening method to prevent soldiers from looking for any information or talking about them.
The soldier mentioned that after finishing his service in the base, he was forced to sign and fingerprint an obligation to stay in the country and not to travel abroad for at least 5 years, and not to disclose the place of service for 15 years at least, as precautionary measures taken by the regime’s intelligence for all who serve in sensitive departments and bases.
The United States opposes Russia's support for Assad, and the Pentagon last year cut off high-level discussions with Moscow after its annexation of Crimea and intervention in Ukraine.
But Russia's buildup at Syria's Latakia airbase raises the possibility of air combat missions in Syrian airspace. Heavy Russian equipment, including tanks, helicopters and naval infantry forces, have been moved to Latakia, U.S. officials say.
Earlier, a Syrian military source said that troops had started to use new types of air and ground weapons supplied by Russia.
Zaman Al Wasl
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.