TEL AVIV – Russia is in Syria for the long haul, according to informed Middle Eastern security officials.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told WND there is information Moscow is in the midst of drawing up plans for military operations in Syria through at least the spring of 2016.
The officials confirmed U.S. accusations that Russia is not only targeting ISIS but is also carrying out strikes against U.S.-backed rebels fighting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The officials said that in less than one week, Russia has done more to advance the international war against ISIS than the combined achievements of Western forces fighting in Syria during the last two years.
The information comes as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg affirmed Tuesday that Russian ground troops were stationed in Syria.
Stoltenberg also blamed the Russians for a second incursion by Russian planes into Turkish airspace, sparking fears Moscow could expand its offensive beyond Syria and amid reports the Iraqi government may formally request Russian intervention there.
"Russian combat aircraft have violated Turkish airspace.” Stoltenberg said, according to NATO's website. "This is unacceptable.
"We also have seen two of them, two violations of Turkish airspace," he added. "Intelligence that we have received provides me with reason to say it doesn't look like an accident."
Stoltenberg said Russia's first incursion into Turkish airspace took place Saturday and the second was on Sunday.
Stoltenberg referenced the "substantial buildup of Russian forces in Syria," which he said includes "ground troops in connection with the air base they have."
Echoing U.S. complaints, the NATO official said, "I'm also concerned that Russia is not targeting ISIL (ISIS) but instead attacking the Syrian opposition and civilians.”
On Tuesday, the British tabloid Mirror newspaper quoted sources saying Vladimir Putin’s hardcore Spetsnaz unit and a covert para battalion were on the ground assisting the Syrian ground campaign against the rebels.
One military source told the newspaper Putin’s marines "are there to guard the airbases they are using against sabotage by rebels.”
"But Spetsnaz and air-assault troops are not there to provide security to static objects, they are extremely aggressive and highly trained," the source said.
“They are there to mop up after airstrikes, call in airstrikes, go on extremely covert missions against rebels and ultimately wipe them out.”
Last week, WND reported Russia’s first airstrikes in Syria were followed immediately by a series of major Syrian army ground operations targeting rebel positions, including in some areas not controlled by ISIS.
Two Lebanese sources told Reuters that hundreds of Iranian troops have arrived in Syria to fight alongside Hezbollah and Syrian forces backed by Russian airstrikes.
“The (Russian) air strikes will in the near future be accompanied by ground advances by the Syrian army and its allies,” one of the sources said, according to Reuters.
“It is possible that the coming land operations will be focused in the Idlib and Hama countryside,” added the source, described as being familiar with the military and political developments.
Russia has insisted it only targeted ISIS positions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly that the Russian air forces are working in conjunction with the Syria military to “exclusively” target ISIS.
“Rumors that the targets of these strikes were not [ISIS] positions were groundless,” Lavrov stated.