Special to WorldTribune.com

Russia has opened a fourth base for operations in Syria, a U.S. military official said on Nov. 3.

The new base is in Tiyas, near the ancient city of Palmyra. Russia has sent five attack helicopters to the new base.

The U.S. official said the new location is significant as it gives Russia a staging area for air strikes on Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) targets.

According to U.S. and other nations’ intelligence officials, most of Moscow’s air strikes in Syria since late September have targeted anti-Assad rebels and not ISIL.

Russia’s base in Latakia, its first, remains the main hub for the air campaign. Moscow also maintains a forward staging base in Hama and a third base was recently established just south of Homs in Shairat.

Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesperson Capt. Jeff Davis denied Russian media reports of a joint training exercise over Syria between the U.S. and Russia. Davis said one U.S. fighter aircraft conducted a three-minute planned communications test with one Russian fighter aircraft over south central Syria.

“The test was conducted. This test was a prudent measure solely to ensure that, in the event coalition aircraft encounter a Russian aircraft during operations in Syria, one of the established and agreed upon modes of communication in the agreement functioned,” Davis said.

All U.S. military cooperation with Russia remains on hold due to Moscow’s activities in Crimea, a U.S. official said.

  Latakia, Palmyra, Russians open fourth base in Syria, Tiyas, WorldTribune.com