Russia approves deal to deploy forces to Syria

Russian yesterday approved a protocol to an agreement with Damascus that allowed the deployment of Russian air forces in Syria, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported.

Reporting Sputnik, the news site said, the protocol stipulates limiting the period of the deployment of the Russian forces in Syria to a renewable period of 49 years.

If none of the two signatories announced its rejection to the renewal one year before the end of the period, it is automatically renewed for 25 years.

The Syrian side, according to the protocol, is entitled to guard the areas where the Russian forces are located as well as the lifelines for the Russians, while the Russians are entitled to carry out air defence missions and maintain their own security inside their bases.

On 26 August 2015, Russia agreed with Syria to allow Russian air forces to freely use the Khmeimim base and its facilities with the consent of the Syria side.

Recently, Russia Today reported the deputy Russian defence minister saying that approval of this protocol would give the Russian air forces an opportunity to carry out its full operations in Syria.

He added Damascus told Moscow that all the procedures that preceeded the implementation of the protocol were completed.