Citat:Russian forces are expanding the tarmac of a major airport in Syria's coastal province of Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar Assad and his minority sect, a prominent Syrian monitoring group said Sunday.
Citat:A former Lebanese general with knowledge of the Syrian military told The Associated Press last week that there are plans to build a military base in the coastal town of Jableh, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Latakia city, where the airport currently under development is located. Israeli officials also say the aim appears to be a military base.
The airport, known by its old name Hemeimeem, already houses a military base and has come under shelling from advancing militants in the countryside.
After the Damascus airport, it's the most important functioning government-controlled airport in Syria. Officially named the Basel al-Assad International airport, after the president's brother who died in a car accident in 1994, it has one terminal, according to the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority website. The tarmac is currently 2,800 meters (3,000 yards) long and 45 meters (49 yards) wide.
Citat:Russia will continue its military support of Syria, including sending personnel to the embattled country, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
"There were military supplies, they are ongoing and they will continue. They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use these weaponry," Lavrov said on Sunday.
Syria: Russian planes with humanitarian aid arrive in Latakia
Two Russian Defence Ministry cargo planes with aid supplies landed at Bashar al-Assad International Airport, in the city of Latakia, on Saturday. Aircraft carried food, water cisterns and equipment for building a camp for more than 1,000 refugees, said Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov.
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