WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry raised US concerns about reports of “an imminent enhanced Russian military buildup” in Syria, in a phone call on Saturday to his counterpart in Moscow, the US State Department said.

“The secretary made clear that if such reports were accurate, these actions could further escalate the conflict, lead to greater loss of innocent life, increase refugee flows and risk confrontation with the anti-ISIL coalition operating in Syria,” the State Department said.

Kerry spoke by telephone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, discussing with him “US concerns about reports suggesting an imminent enhanced Russian buildup there,” the department said.

“The two agreed that discussions on the Syrian conflict would continue in New York later this month,” it said.

The New York Times reported that Russia has sent a military advance team to Syria and was taking other steps that Washington fears may signal plans to vastly expand its military support for President Bashar al-Assad.

The Times said the moves included the recent transport of prefabricated housing units for hundreds of people to a Syrian airfield and the delivery of a portable air traffic control station there.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was asked on Friday whether Russia was taking part in military operations against the self-styled Islamic State group in Syria.

“We are looking at various options but so far what you are talking about is not on the agenda,” he said.—AFP

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play