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Russia to upgrade military bases to avoid quagmire in Syria: Analyst

Monday, 16 January 2017 3:19 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 16 January 2017 5:18 PM ]

A file picture taken on October 3, 2015 shows Russian Sukhoi Su-24 bombers standing on an airfield at the Hmeimim airbase in the Syrian province of Latakia.

Russia says it intends to improve and expand its naval and air bases in Syria to further contain terrorist groups operating in the war-torn country.

Moscow launched its campaign against the Daesh Takfiri terrorists and other militant groups in Syria upon a request from Damascus in September 2015. Its airstrikes have helped Syrian forces advance in their counterterrorism operations in the country.

An independent journalist and author believes Moscow’s plan to upgrade its military bases in Syria might be a reaction to a reckless decision by US President Barack Obama to finally give man-portable air defense systems, known as MANPADS, to various militant groups in the war-torn country in an attempt to defeat Russia.

“I think the US all along has wanted Russia to be in a quagmire and Russia is now getting deeper into Syria. In order to defeat these kinds of weapons, they will need more planes, they will need to be more involved,” Joe Lauria told Press TV in an interview on Monday.

He also noted after the liberation of the strategic northwestern city of Aleppo, the United States and its regional allies have decided to send these shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to Syria.

However, he said, every time the United States has decided to give weapons to the so-called moderate militants in Syria, they find their way into the hands of terrorist groups such as Daesh and al-Nusra Front.

The analyst further stated the US decision to send anti-aircraft weapons to Syria is going to escalate the war, adding that it is going to dig a deep hole for US President-elect Donald Trump who has talked about rapprochement with Russia and ending this new "Cold War."

“The American deep state does not want Trump to make good with Russia. They want conflict with Russia, hopefully not [a] military conflict but they certainly want to keep the pressure on Russia and ultimately I think their desire is regime change in Moscow,” he said.

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