Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Russia Defies Turkey's Airspace for Second Time; Has Ground Troops in Syria to Back Assad Forces

Russian involvement in the four and one-half year-old Syrian civil war is escalating, with NATO's secretary general confirming today (October 6, 2015) that a second incursion by Russian planes into Turkish airspace and saying Russian ground troops are in Syria as well, the CNN website reports.

"Russian combat aircraft have violated Turkish airspace," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. "This is unacceptable."

Stoltenberg also said that "substantial buildup of Russian forces in Syria" includes ground troops in connection with the air base they have." He believes that Russia is not targeting Islamic State (IS) troops, but rather American-trained rebels who oppose the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia is a strong ally of Assad, while the United States is his enemy and wants him overthrown. Russia's recent entry -- just one week ago -- into Syria's civil war to assist Assad's failing troops may well result in a more serious war involving Russia, Turkey, and the United States, as well as Syria and the Islamic State.

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