Russia boosting military support ‘to stop fall of Assad’

Russia intends to step up its military involvement in Syria to prevent the “imminent” collapse of the Syrian government and its president Bashar al-Assad, the EU’s foreign policy chief said.

Russia’s position contradicts that of the US, who up until last week insisted that Assad must go.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Federica Mogherini said Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told her his country wanted to prevent the collapse of the Syrian state.

“His fear is of a compete collapse of the state structures in Syria, this could be one of the reasons Russia is talking in this way but it could also be willingness to show that Russia is an important, substantial player,” Mogherini said.

Mogherini’s comments follow reports that 500 Russian troops have been deployed to a forward operating base in the Syrian port city of Latakia.

Russian military shipments to Syria have alarmed the US and its allies in recent weeks, and Putin is expected to defend them in a UN speech on Monday.

Bays said EU and US leaders meeting at the UN headquarters in New York were divided on what role Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of Russia's Vladimir Putin, would play after any future settlement.

“There are different views among European leaders and some including the UK have floated the idea that perhaps Assad could stay on for a transitional period.” 

The US and the EU have also approached Iran to use its influence to find a solution to the Syrian conflict.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, France said it launched air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria in an effort to stem its growing presence there.

"Our country thus confirms its resolute commitment to fight against the terrorist threat represented by Daesh. We will strike each time that our national security is at stake," the French Presidency said in a statement.