U.S. and Israel Issue Warning to Russia:

Israel has added its voice to a growing chorus of concern over a reported Russian military buildup in Syria in support of the beleaguered regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Speaking to reporters, Moshe Ya’alon, the Israeli defense minister, echoed claims by western sources that Moscow has in recent days dispatched military advisers and equipment with the main goal of setting up an airbase in the Syrian government-controlled area around Latakia.

The information divulged in Ya’alon’s briefing closely resembles comments by US defense officials this week who said the US had seen a variety of Russian military assets flown into the airfield south of Latakia, including troops capable of protecting Russian forces there and modular housing units capable of accommodating up to 1,000 troops.