The Russian Federation has not shied away from displaying its military support for the Syrian Government, despite claims that the Russians have attempted to hide their increased participation in the Syrian Conflict.
In fact, the Russian Marines are now fully armed and positioned in Syria’s western countryside, as they train and advise the latest recruits from the civilian-led “National Defense Forces” (NDF) in east Latakia (Slunfeh), east Tartous (Safita), and southwest Homs (Wadi Al-Nasara).
The Russian Marines in Syria boast an estimated 650 armed personnel on the ground, with almost 400 of these soldiers positioned in the dense mountains of eastern Latakia; specifically, inside Jabal Al-Akrad.
What these soldiers were missing has finally arrived to the shores of the Syrian port-city of Tartous: yes, the Russian-made “T-90 Tanks” were transported to the Russian Marines on Monday, leaving no doubt that Russian military presence was more than just farce.
However, it should be noted that these T-90 Tanks were not transported to any battlefront nor have the Russian Marines joined the fight against the armed insurgents inside Syria.
According to a senior officer in the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the majority of the Russian Marines inside Syria are professional soldiers that are neither conscripted nor unaware of the tasks that lie ahead of them.
What exactly is their main objective? Well, 650 Russian Marines are not likely going to do any-kind of fighting; however, these soldiers are positioned in a number of areas that are considered government strongholds.
Should the Islamist rebels attempt to cross from the Al-Ghaab Plains of west Hama into the southeastern hills of Jabal Al-Akrad, they will find themselves among an elite group of Russian Marines and Iranian Revolutionary Guardsmen that are stationed in this area.
