Talk:Syrian Government Forces


 * 52 division
 * The article reprinted in Rusvesna describes division forces and conveys a picture that the division was over-run by a weaker rebel force in Deraa province on 11 June 2015. This is attributed to low morals and abandonment by generals. The article continues to say that control is being passed to Iranian generals and Hezbollah, with a view to preserve regime in a suitable way, by defending Damascus and areas to the North --Resup (talk) 13:42, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

...and Iran

 * 'Quietly American Foreign Office Having Dialogue with Damascus and Mouallem off to Moscow', by Nahed Hatter  Translation  by G and I Kadi, originally published in Al Akhbar (in Arabic),   5 August 2105. Tells in part about an  ...'amended Iranian initiative that is being discussed by the Iranian – Russian – Syrian trio in Tehran, the launching of which may signal the end of war on Syria'... (saving the link. Observation: those 'broad-based anti-terror' peace initiatives attributed to Lavrov or to Iran appear nearly identical, when presented in Russian press...Unfamiliar with the article author or the magazine...) --Resup (talk) 05:24, 7 August 2015 (UTC)
 * 'Syria foreign minister in Tehran for talks with Iran, Russia', Aug 4, 2015, Reuters.


 * Meanwhile, Quds ('Jerusalem')  force commander said to be shopping for weapons in Moscow according to Western reports  (hmm- and how do they know)? --Resup (talk) 12:04, 7 August 2015 (UTC)
 * ..also, said to be talking to Kurds ...

...and Russia
According to a Turkish source, "Six MiG-31 fighter jets from Russia have landed in Damascus, in partial fulfillment of a protocol signed between Moscow and the Syrian regime in 2007" --Resup (talk) 19:53, 16 August 2015 (UTC)

It is said that a group of Russian pilots and planes are expected to begin arriving to a government-controlled part of Syria. It is expected that they will play a role in countering IS. --Resup (talk) 14:20, 1 September 2015 (UTC)

Apparently the MiG-31 delivery was denied by Russia (edit: here), at least that is what seems to be consensus on this German blog. But they spotted a modern BTR-82A on the Syrian battlefield and discuss that a Russian warship with military vehicles on open deck was spotted southbound in the Bosporus on August 20. The latter site has a list at the end of this article which suggests that there is something to the frequent "Syria Express" from Russia to Tartous sources like Syria Perspective are bragging about. --CE (talk) 18:59, 1 September 2015 (UTC)
 * More on the topic here: New evidence proves Russian military directly engaging in Syrian Civil War - 29 August 2015

Kerry was concerned by reports of Russian involvement, called Lavrov. Kerry said that this can lead to escalation, and possibly clash with Western anti-IS coalition. Contacts on the issue will continue. Also in the same article: Putin said that participating in hostilities is not currently on agenda, but Russia provides Syria with quite significant assistance, including equipment, training of military personnel, weapons. Speaking about the support of Syria's weapons, Putin sai that we are talking about contracts signed some 5-7 years ago. "We are fulfilling all of them in full"  --Resup (talk) 13:07, 6 September 2015 (UTC)

Mig-31s?
There is a curious old article by Kommersant, a respected Russian business journal. It refers to 'multiple sources in miliary-industrial complex' for information that a contract was signed to deliver five Mig 31 to Syria. Production of Mig 31 was halted in 1994 for economic reasons. The head of the federal industrial agency of Russia at the time, confirmed that there is an export contract, but declined to name the buyer. Assistant director of Mig Vladimir Vypriazhkin confirmed that export orders 'have started to appear', and that they offer Mig 31 as a 'trade-in' deal to those countries who have Mig 25. At the time, Syria and Libya had Mig 25, and India stopped using it for wear and tear reasons. Komersant reminded that Iran will also benefit, since there is mutual defense treaty between Syria and Iran (still in force by 2012, and likely in force today). Mig 31 was designed to counter cruise missiles in particular, and can be armed with long-range missiles. Unsure what happened to the contract, perhaps put on ice on Israel objections. Maybe it is attempted to revive this now after the Iran deal. --Resup (talk) 02:26, 2 September 2015 (UTC)