Russia to Deploy More Fighter Jets to Syria

As international criticism of heavy bombings in Aleppo increases, Russian media reported on Friday that Moscow will send more fighter jets to Syria. According to Reuters, the White House announced on Thursday that Barack Obama, the President of the United States, and Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, described the Russian and Syrian airstrikes in eastern Aleppo as 'brutal.' The Syrian army and its allies, supported by Russian airstrikes, began a ground operation last week to seize areas controlled by rebels in Aleppo. This operation began despite a recent shaky agreement between Russia and the U.S. on a new ceasefire, which was briefly observed for a few days. However, with the start of the Syrian government forces' operations, battles in Aleppo have intensified, and Syrian citizens trapped in these areas have told international media that the recent wave of attacks is the most severe bombing that has occurred against Aleppo during the six years of the Syrian civil war. Meanwhile, the Izvestia newspaper reported, citing a Russian military official, that several Su-24 and Su-34 aircraft have been dispatched to Syria from the Khmeimim base. A Russian military official told the newspaper that if deemed necessary, more fighter jets will be sent to Syria. This official added that Su-25 fighter jets, designed for ground attacks, have been designated for deployment to Syria and will be sent to the Khmeimim base. These aircraft, along with their units and crews, have also been identified and are awaiting orders from their commanders for deployment to Syria. Reuters reports that the Russian Ministry of Defense did not respond to the news agency's inquiry regarding the deployment of more fighter jets to Syria. Meanwhile, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, stated on Friday that Moscow is ready to negotiate with the U.S. regarding reducing hostilities in Aleppo. According to Reuters, Lavrov said in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that he was concerned that Washington does not distinguish between moderate groups and those that Russia considers terrorists, allowing groups like Jabhat al-Nusra to violate the ceasefire. This comes as John Kerry announced the day before that, given the extensive bombings against Aleppo, further negotiations with Russia regarding Syria seem meaningless. In this context, Mark Toner, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, confirmed on Friday that John Kerry and Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone regarding Syria. Reuters states that Western countries accuse Russia of war crimes in Aleppo, claiming that it deliberately targets civilians in Aleppo. However, Russia and Syria deny these accusations, stating that they only target militant forces in Aleppo. It is reported that at least 250,000 people are trapped in areas controlled by Bashar al-Assad's opposition groups in Aleppo, lacking access to basic humanitarian needs. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitoring group based in London, reported on Friday that Russian airstrikes in areas outside government control have resulted in over 9,000 deaths, tens of thousands displaced, and widespread destruction. The Russian government began its airstrikes on September 30 of last year, and its air support for Syrian government forces has shifted the balance of power in many parts of the country, including around Damascus and the Aleppo region.