Russia positioning tanks at Syria airfield: US

Russia's recent movements near Syria's city of Latakia suggest that Moscow plans to establish a "forward air operating base" there, the US has said, adding that the intentions of Moscow's latest deployment of heavy military equipment were unclear.
Russia has positioned about a half dozen tanks at an airfield at the center of a military buildup in Syria, two US officials said last Monday,
The Pentagon declined to directly comment on the Reuters report, saying it could not discuss US intelligence. But a US Defense Department said recent actions by Moscow suggested plans to establish a forward air operating base.
"We have seen movement of people and things that would indicate that they plan to use that base there, south of Latakia, as a forward air operating base," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told a news briefing.
One of the US officials said, on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said seven Russian T-90 tanks had been observed at the airfield near Latakia, an Assad stronghold.
The two US officials said Russia had also stationed artillery that appeared to be arrayed defensively to protect Russian personnel stationed there, according to Reuters.

--Samir--