Russia is about to expand military operations in Syria with a second air base and other advanced outposts. This is what emerges from the latest Pentagon report carried out in the Region.
Now Moscow has four operational bases, including those of Hama and Tiyas. What worries the Pentagon the most is Shayrat's second air base, capable of supporting fixed-wing aircraft. This second airport could double the current Russian capacity in Syria.
The Shayrat base, from a simple advanced outpost for attack and transport helicopters, is now able to host fighter-bombers. Located at 25 miles from the city of Homs, it is an hour's drive from the Lebanese border. To date, the only Russian air base was the Bassel al-Assad International, airport at 20 km south of Latakia on the Mediterranean coast of Syria connected to the main port of the country. In recent weeks, however, the Russians would have made changes to the Shayrat base which, from around 24 hours, would be starting to receive several fixed-wing aircraft.
According to the Pentagon, the second air base should not be seen as a countermove of a defensive nature, but clearly expanding.
In the next few hours we will know in detail the typology of the new Russian redevelopment. The US-led coalition fears the arrival of other "pure" fighters that, as is easy to understand, would have nothing to do with the Islamic State.
(photo: MoD Russian Federation)
