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.”

Assad gave no details of the weapons being supplied by Russia, the world’s second biggest arms exporter, since the start of the conflict which has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions.

Asked about the interview, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not say whether Moscow was supplying arms to Damascus.

“In fact, Moscow has always highlighted that there have been and are no embargoes on military co-operation. There are no legal limitations no us,” he told reporters.

Russia’s defence ministry declined immediate comment on the matter.