Russia Conducts Joint Air Defense Exercise with Syria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Russian Air Force has initiated a joint exercise with its Syrian counterpart, as announced by the defense ministry in Moscow on Thursday.
The exercise focuses on "issues of control of the airspace of Syria" and aims to assess the effectiveness of Russia's air defenses in the Middle Eastern nation, according to a brief statement by the Russian military.
The exercise includes the participation of electronic warfare units, who are preparing for joint operations to counter enemy airstrikes. The drill is set to continue until the middle of the current month.
Since 2015, Russian military aircraft have been stationed in Syria in response to a request by Damascus for assistance in combating anti-government militants. This intervention played a crucial role in helping the Syrian army regain control over significant parts of the country.
In the subsequent year, Moscow published the text of a treaty that was signed between Syria and Russia, allowing for the long-term hosting of Russian forces at the Khmeimim Airbase. The agreement, which is indefinite unless terminated by either party, does not involve any charges for Moscow.
The US government has been providing support to anti-Damascus forces since the early stages of the Syrian conflict, which began in 2011. Additionally, Washington has imposed severe economic sanctions on Syria, hindering the country's reconstruction efforts. Furthermore, the US maintains a military base on Syrian soil, despite the objections of the Syrian government.