Russia to make Hmeymim full-fledged military base in Syria

Russia is planning to turn the Hmeymim air base in Syria into a full-fledged military base and to place a permanent contingent of air forces, a Russian official has said.

"After the legal status of Hmeymim is agreed upon, it will become a full-fledged base of Russian armed forces with appropriate infrastructure," Frants Klintsevich, first deputy head of the Russian Federation Council's Defense and Security Committee, was quoted as saying by a report published Thursday on the website of Russian newspaper Izvestia.

He also said that Russia understands that if no action is taken, terrorism will threaten Russia.

"If Western countries don't want to agree on joint actions, we will strengthen relations with Syria, Iran and Iraq," said Klintsevich.

The official said Russia's support to Syria has allowed the country's seriously demoralized armed forces to restore their combat capability.

Strategic bombers and nuclear weapons will not be located in the base, because it does not match with Russia's international obligations, he added. Endi