Moscow tightens Ukraine-Syria interactive link

Belarusian troops are being consigned to the Syrian arena for the first time under an accord concluded between Moscow and Minsk. DEBKAfile spotted this in a column of the Russian news agency RIA that is devoted to official communiques. A unit of 200 Belorussian troops will set out for Syria in the coming days for their first assignment outside their own country in collaboration with Russian forces.