Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Russia has expressed concern for the safety of its military
advisers in Syria.

Officials said the Kremlin has sought to address threats to the safety
of thousands of Russians in Syria. They said this included hundreds of
advisers to the Syrian military and security forces, assigned to quell the
Sunni revolt.

“The only thing that worries us today is the security of our citizens,” Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said.

[Related story: Seeing Iran officers with Assad forces angered many Syrian military deserters]

In a briefing on March 13, Antonov did not cite figures. But he
acknowledged the presence of Russian military advisers and trainers in Syria, regarded as one of Moscow’s top three defense export clients in the Middle East.

“It’s part of our contractual obligations,” Antonov said. “When we
supply weapons, we have to provide training.”

Officials have acknowledged a series of major arms deals with Syria over
the last six months. They said Russia has delivered such platforms as the
Iskander-E surface-to-surface rocket, Bastion coastal defense system and
also concluded agreements for 36 Yak-130 light attack aircraft to the regime
of President Bashar Assad.

“Russia enjoys good and strong military technical cooperation with
Syria, and we see no reason today to reconsider it,” Antonov, responsible
for defense and military cooperation with Moscow’s allies, said.

Officials said the Russian Navy has deployed 600 personnel at the Syrian
port of Tartous. Tartous, the only foreign port employed on a permanent
basis by the Russian Navy, has been undergoing an upgrade that would allow
for the docking of large surface vessels.

But Antonov denied reports that Russia was supplying special operations
forces to fight alongside Assad’s military. He said Russia was supplying
weapons only for conventional military operations.

“There are no [Russian] special forces with rifles and grenade launchers
running around,” Antonov said.

  Anatoly Antonov, Bashar Assad, Bastion coastal defense system, Iskander-E surface-to-surface rocket, Moscow concerned about its thousands of advisers in Syria, port of Tartous, Russian military advisers in Syria, Russian Navy, Sunni revolt