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Friday 18 Dec 2015 - 16:50 Makkah mean time-7-3-1437
Moscow, (IINA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday referred to Russia’s intervention in Syria as a military “exercise” for Russian air forces, air defense, and intelligence, Business Insider reported.
His comments came during the annual marathon news conference, in which he said: "We are just conducting separate operations, using our air forces, air defense, and intelligence. This is not a serious burden on the budget ... It's hard to imagine a better exercise [for the Russian forces]. So we can train there [in Syria] for a long time without any serious harm to our budget".
Boris Zilberman, a Russia expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said he thought the statement was an admission of one of Moscow's primary intentions for the Russian military intervention in Syria.
"I think he is basically saying that the conflict in Syria is allowing Russia to showcase their air and sea capabilities in a real conflict", Zilberman told Business Insider.
"He doesn't say it, but I think the point he is getting at is that the conflict in Syria increases the Russians' military readiness".
"Syria is a debut of sorts for Russia's tactical aviation", military expert Michael Kofman wrote in October.
Russia is reportedly building a second base of operations for Moscow's air assets in Syria southeast of Homs, at the current Syrian military base of Shaayrat. Russia has largely been carrying out airstrikes from its base in northwestern Syria, in the Latakia province.
AG/IINA
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