Moscow would not “run away” from Syria: Military Chief

Moscow continues to support Syria and has not given up on the embattled regime of Bashar Al-Assad, said Russia’s military chief.

Chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, Army General Nikolai Makarov refuted speculation that Russia is about to pull back its military advisers from Syria.

“Why do you get so worked up about Syria?” the general shot back when asked on Tuesday if Russia planned to recall its military advisers in Syria. “All our plans are on track, we have not run away from Syria. Everybody works according to plan.”

Western media alleged that Syrian air defence guns that downed a Turkish F-4 fighter jet in June were operated by Russian instructors. Earlier this month a Syrian rebel group falsely claimed to have killed a Russian general working as an adviser to Syria’s ministry of defence. The General personally met with reporters in Moscow to prove he is alive and well.

“I think it’s premature to draw the curtain and claim we’ve run away from Syria,” the Russian General Staff Chief said.

Last month Russia’s top arms export official said Moscow intended to continue supplying Mr. Assad with weapons and other military equipment under earlier signed deals.

“Syria is our old friend, and we fulfil all our obligations before our friends,” said Alexander Fomin, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation.