Russia selling weapons to Syria

Russia is supplying weapons to Damascus via contracts signed since the conflict in Syria began in 2011, as well as under earlier deals, says president Bashar al-Assad.

Assad’s comments in an interview published by Russian government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta appeared to contradict Moscow’s line that any Russian arms supplies to Damascus were agreed before the conflict began.

“There are contracts that had been sealed before the crisis started and were carried out during the crisis,” said Assad. “There are other agreements on arms supplies and co-operation that were signed during the crisis and are being carried out now.”