Washington notes Russian military engagement in Syria

US sources suggested Saturday that Moscow has asked at least one country bordering Syria for a window of time to fly a detachment of warplanes over its territory and into Syria – suggesting it was Turkey. They also report that US intelligence reconnaissance photos show military construction – apparently of a base for staging troops and equipment near the western Syrian port of Latakia, which is a stronghold of the Assad regime. Friday night, the White House noted that the US was following possible Russian military movements against ISIS targets in the wake of an Islamist attack on a Russian military base in Dagestan.
Tuesday, Sept. 1, DEBKAfile reported that Russia was to be the first outside power to put boots on the ground in Syria and had begun building a military base at Jablah near Latakia.