Syria would welcome a Russian base

MOSCOW: The Syrian ambassador in Moscow said on Wednesday Damascus would welcome the deployment of a Russian military base in Latakia if Moscow decides to build one there, Interfax news agency reported. “If Russia agrees, Syria would welcome such a step, because it would be aimed against terror on our soil,” Interfax quoted Riad Haddad as saying.
Meanwhile, the Syrian military has for the first time deployed drones supplied by Russia for its fight against extremists, a security source in Damascus said.
Separately, US military officials denied reports that the latest batch of American-trained Syrian rebels had defected to an Al-Qaeda affiliate.
The Pentagon is under intense scrutiny over its "train-and-equip" program in which moderate Syrian rebels are trained to fight Daesh.