Dr. Mahmoud al-Afandi to Ugarit: Russia seeks to rehabilitate and train the Syrian government forces and weaken Iranian influence
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the opening of Al-Jarrah Airport in Aleppo, northern Syria, after the completion of the restoration process, the equipping of the command-and-control tower, and the deployment of air defense systems, in a step that observers said was direct messages addressed to a number of parties.
During a private dialogue with the Secretary-General of the Syrian Popular Diplomacy Movement, Dr. Mahmoud al-Afandi, the “Ugarit Post” network raised many questions about Russia’s goal of rehabilitating and controlling the Al-Jarrah Military Airport in the countryside of Aleppo.Will Russia seek, through this step, to end or weaken Iranian influence in northern Syria?
Why did the Russian forces deploy advanced air defense systems and combat aircraft at Al-Jarrah Military Airport in northern Syria?
Actually, there are two letters. The first denies all rumors about Russia transferring ground forces and weapons from Syria to Ukraine, and secondly, we must not forget the tripartite meeting that was held recently in Moscow and brought together the defense ministers of Syria, Turkey and Russia. The reason for this step may be the preparation for a military operation against the “SDF” if it does not respond to the demands of the Syrian government.
Al-Jarrah Airport in particular is considered one of the largest airports located near the areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, where it is possible that the next military operation will be not only Turkish but also joint Syrian, and the alternative to avoiding the joint military operation is the approval of the Autonomous Administration for the entry of government forces into the areas Northeastern Syria.
Is Russia seeking to end or weaken Iranian influence in northern Syria, especially since Al-Jarrah Airport was an important Iranian base?
We must be realistic, Iran does not have air weapons from aircraft or war fighters inside Syria, but there are only groups or militias, and it does not have air bases or airports under its control, and all of this news is false media information. However, at the same time, Russia is trying to weaken Iranian influence through Russian attempts to return Syria to the “Arab embrace”, as Syria constitutes a point of balance in the Arab-Iranian relations.
There is news about the use of Al-Jarrah airport by the Iranians as a base for targeting the international coalition with drones, which prompted Russia to intervene and control the airport.. How true is that?
This news is incorrect, as the Iranian marches do not need bases and military airfields, but only platforms that can be located anywhere. Russia seeks to strengthen the Syrian army and restore its control over all parts of the country, thus weakening Iranian influence and expelling all its affiliated militias, for several reasons. Including Israel, where Tel Aviv pretends that it is targeting Syrian lands because of the Iranian presence there, which will lead to mitigating Israeli strikes. There is also a close relationship between the Russian President and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, where talks took place between the two parties regarding Syria and the need to weaken the Iranian presence on Syrian lands by strengthening The Syrian army, its rehabilitation and arming.
