A Syria Democratic Forces fighter walks under contrails made by U.S. alliance air forces on the outskirts of al-Shadadi town, Hasaka countryside, Syria February 19, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX27SL7
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia wants to know more details about U.S. plans to bolster its special forces in Syria, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
President Barack Obama announced on Monday the biggest expansion of U.S. ground troops in Syria since its civil war began.
The deployment of up to 250 Special Forces soldiers increases U.S. forces in Syria roughly sixfold and is aimed at helping militia fighters who have clawed back territory from Islamic State militants in a string of victories.
(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Denis Pinchuk)
In an added story…
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia holds enough forces at its Hmeymim air base in Syria to safeguard the ceasefire and assist Syrian government forces in fighting rebels from Islamic State and the Nusra Front, General Sergei Rudskoi, a senior Russian Defence Ministry official, Interfax news agency quoted him as saying on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov)
