Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters Monday that Russia would provide “the most active” support to the Syrian army to keep the strategic city of Aleppo and the surrounding area from falling into the hands of “terrorists.” “What is happening in and around Aleppo now is what we had warned the Americans about beforehand — and they know it: that we will in the most active way support the Syrian army from the air not to allow the seizure of this territory by terrorists,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov’s comments, which come one day after Russia’s deputy defense minister announced that there was still “much to be done to support the Syrian army” — have added to speculation that Russia is preparing to revamp its military operations in Syria three months after announcing it had begun to withdraw. FULL REPORT
