Moscow Concerned over News on Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Buy Weapons for “Armed Opposition” in Syria

MOSCOW- Russia is concerned over media reports about Saudi Arabia’s plans to buy shoulder-fired missile weapons to support the “armed Syrian opposition”, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, according to Itar Tass.

“We are deeply worried over media reports citing the gulfnews.com website that Saudi Arabia plans to buy Pakistan-made shoulder-fired missile and anti-tank systems to send them to the Syrian armed opposition groups based in Jordan,” the ministry said.

“According to media reports, this deal is called to change the balance of forces in favor of gunmen in the course of the spring attack by illegal armed formations on Damascus from the southern front,” the ministry noted.

“If such weapons are in the hands of extremists and terrorists Syria is inundated with, the risk is high that such weapons in the long run will be used far beyond the boundaries of that Middle East state,” the ministry said.

“We are also worried over media reports that Jordan’s territory is used to transit weapons to armed groups and to train gunmen at training camps ahead of the launching of the above mentioned spring attacks in the southern front against the Syrian government forces,” the ministry added.

Saudi Arabia has been the main supplier of weapons and funds to the armed groups inside Syria.

H.M