BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:00 P.M.) – The Russian ground forces are not involved in the ongoing Syrian Arab Army (SAA) operations in northwestern Syria, the RIA news agency reported on Thursday.
According to the RIA report, the Russian Ministry of Defense denied claims by the militant commanders in Idlib that their special forces and ground troops were participating in the ongoing Syrian Army operations.
“Russia has had no and has no ground forces in Syria,” the defense ministry was cited as saying.
While the Russian Air Force is active over northwestern Syria, their ground troops are only involved in advisory roles with the Syrian Arab Army.
Furthermore, Russian troops are deployed in northwestern Syria, but most are positioned near the demilitarized zone, per the September 17th Sochi agreement with Turkey.
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