Russian Senators Back Permanent Deployment of Air Force to Syria

Russian senators have ratified an agreement that allows permanent deployment of the country’s air force in Syria, according to Rt.

One hundred and fifty-eight Russian senators thrust their support behind the permanent air force at the Syrian base in Hmeimim during the Wednesday vote.

 “Russia’s Air Force group will be located in Syria only for defense purposes and does not target third countries,” Viktor Ozerov, chair of the Defense Committee in the Federation Council, told RIA Novosti after the vote.

Ozerov added the decision marks Russia’s “substantial input” into the international effort to stabilize the situation in Syria.

“I believe we should consider [the treaty] in a context of global issues and talk about a new quality of Russia’s positioning, not only in Syria and the Middle East, but in the world,” Frants Klintsevich, deputy chair of the upper house’s Committee for Defense and Security, said in a statement.

Last Friday the State Duma voted unanimously to ratify the treaty.

Russia launched its military operation in the Syrian Arab Republic on September 30, 2015. It deployed its warplanes and support troops to Syria in response to a request by Damascus. The stated goal was to support the Syrian army in its battle against terrorism.

H.M