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| Kremlin Says Russian ‘Volunteer’ Forces Will Fight in Syria | Kremlin Says Russian ‘Volunteer’ Forces Will Fight in Syria |
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| MOSCOW — Russia signaled deepening intervention Monday in the Syria war, strongly hinting that its “volunteer” ground forces would soon be fighting there, as NATO officials warned the Kremlin after a Russian warplane invaded Turkey’s airspace. | MOSCOW — Russia signaled deepening intervention Monday in the Syria war, strongly hinting that its “volunteer” ground forces would soon be fighting there, as NATO officials warned the Kremlin after a Russian warplane invaded Turkey’s airspace. |
| The unfolding developments reflected a dangerous new superpower entanglement in the war, which has left a quarter-million dead and half the country’s population displaced since it began more than four years ago. | The unfolding developments reflected a dangerous new superpower entanglement in the war, which has left a quarter-million dead and half the country’s population displaced since it began more than four years ago. |
| The addition of Russia ground forces to the aerial assaults already underway by Russian warplanes particularly threatens to undermine Turkey’s Syria policy, which aims for the establishment of a “safe zone” along the Turkish border where some Syrian refugees could return in the future. | The addition of Russia ground forces to the aerial assaults already underway by Russian warplanes particularly threatens to undermine Turkey’s Syria policy, which aims for the establishment of a “safe zone” along the Turkish border where some Syrian refugees could return in the future. |
| Russia and Iran have moved aggressively in the past few weeks to strengthen their ally, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, to fight a range of insurgents. The assistance has raised the possibility of a new ground offensive by Mr. Assad’s forces against groups of fighters including those backed by the United States, Turkey and their allies, who want Mr. Assad to leave power. | Russia and Iran have moved aggressively in the past few weeks to strengthen their ally, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, to fight a range of insurgents. The assistance has raised the possibility of a new ground offensive by Mr. Assad’s forces against groups of fighters including those backed by the United States, Turkey and their allies, who want Mr. Assad to leave power. |
| Russia’s escalation has come as the Americans and Turks are intensifying their aerial attacks to pressure the Islamic State extremist group, which has seized swaths of Syria and Iraq. | Russia’s escalation has come as the Americans and Turks are intensifying their aerial attacks to pressure the Islamic State extremist group, which has seized swaths of Syria and Iraq. |
| The Americans see the Islamic State as the most dangerous immediate threat and view Russia’s moves as prolonging and possibly widening the war. | The Americans see the Islamic State as the most dangerous immediate threat and view Russia’s moves as prolonging and possibly widening the war. |
| Russia’s intervention already appears to have subverted diplomatic efforts to halt the war led by a special United Nations envoy, Staffan de Mistura. Forty-one rebel factions who oppose Mr. Assad said in a statement on Monday that Russia’s “brutal occupation has cut the road to any political solution.” | Russia’s intervention already appears to have subverted diplomatic efforts to halt the war led by a special United Nations envoy, Staffan de Mistura. Forty-one rebel factions who oppose Mr. Assad said in a statement on Monday that Russia’s “brutal occupation has cut the road to any political solution.” |
| Russia has openly acknowledged sending warplanes and other military equipment to bolster Mr. Assad. Although President Vladimir V. Putin has ruled out sending ground forces to Syria, a senior Kremlin defense official told Russian news agencies on Monday that military veterans who had fought in eastern Ukraine would likely start showing up as “volunteer” ground forces in Syria. | Russia has openly acknowledged sending warplanes and other military equipment to bolster Mr. Assad. Although President Vladimir V. Putin has ruled out sending ground forces to Syria, a senior Kremlin defense official told Russian news agencies on Monday that military veterans who had fought in eastern Ukraine would likely start showing up as “volunteer” ground forces in Syria. |
| The statement by the official, Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov, head of the armed forces committee in Russia’s Parliament, asserted that such volunteers “cannot be stopped.” | The statement by the official, Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov, head of the armed forces committee in Russia’s Parliament, asserted that such volunteers “cannot be stopped.” |
| Admiral Komoyedov’s statement was the strongest signal yet of Russia’s intentions. It echoed Russia’s use of shadowy ground forces in other conflicts over the past year — most notably its seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in March of 2014 and its assistance to insurgents in eastern Ukraine. | Admiral Komoyedov’s statement was the strongest signal yet of Russia’s intentions. It echoed Russia’s use of shadowy ground forces in other conflicts over the past year — most notably its seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in March of 2014 and its assistance to insurgents in eastern Ukraine. |
| The Russian warplane’s incursion into Turkish airspace, which happened on Saturday, elicited a blunt protest from Turkey, a NATO member. Turkish fighter jets intercepted the warplane in the episode. | The Russian warplane’s incursion into Turkish airspace, which happened on Saturday, elicited a blunt protest from Turkey, a NATO member. Turkish fighter jets intercepted the warplane in the episode. |
| NATO officials issued a warning to Russia about the incursion on Monday, and the United States began what officials called urgent consultations with Turkey. | NATO officials issued a warning to Russia about the incursion on Monday, and the United States began what officials called urgent consultations with Turkey. |
| Russia’s actions were “an unacceptable violation” of Turkish airspace, NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said after meeting with the Turkish foreign minister, Feridun Sinirlioglu. Mr. Stoltenberg added, “Russia’s actions are not contributing to the security and stability of the region.” | Russia’s actions were “an unacceptable violation” of Turkish airspace, NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said after meeting with the Turkish foreign minister, Feridun Sinirlioglu. Mr. Stoltenberg added, “Russia’s actions are not contributing to the security and stability of the region.” |
| Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, speaking in Madrid during a news conference with his Spanish counterpart, said that American officials were conferring with Turkish counterparts over next steps. | Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, speaking in Madrid during a news conference with his Spanish counterpart, said that American officials were conferring with Turkish counterparts over next steps. |
| “I don’t believe this was an accident,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to comment publicly. | “I don’t believe this was an accident,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to comment publicly. |
| “Along with quite a bit of Russia’s behavior, this just affirms our deep concern over what they’re doing,” the official said, adding that Russia’s behavior “raises questions about basic safe conduct in the skies.” | “Along with quite a bit of Russia’s behavior, this just affirms our deep concern over what they’re doing,” the official said, adding that Russia’s behavior “raises questions about basic safe conduct in the skies.” |
| Another administration official called Russia’s behavior “deliberately provocative.” | Another administration official called Russia’s behavior “deliberately provocative.” |
| A spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Turkey told the Russian news service Interfax on Monday that the Russian Ministry of Defense had conceded a crossing into Turkish airspace and provided an explanation to the Turkish military attaché in Moscow. The details of that explanation were not disclosed. | A spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Turkey told the Russian news service Interfax on Monday that the Russian Ministry of Defense had conceded a crossing into Turkish airspace and provided an explanation to the Turkish military attaché in Moscow. The details of that explanation were not disclosed. |
| The episode in Turkish airspace occurred in the Hatay region close to the Syrian border, when a Russian warplane “exited Turkish airspace into Syria after being intercepted by two F-16s from the Turkish Air Force, which was conducting patrols in the region,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. | The episode in Turkish airspace occurred in the Hatay region close to the Syrian border, when a Russian warplane “exited Turkish airspace into Syria after being intercepted by two F-16s from the Turkish Air Force, which was conducting patrols in the region,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. |
| The ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to Ankara, demanded that the violation not happen again and said that Russia would be responsible for any further escalation, Turkish officials said. | The ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to Ankara, demanded that the violation not happen again and said that Russia would be responsible for any further escalation, Turkish officials said. |
| “The steps Russia is taking and the bombing campaign in Syria are quite unacceptable to Turkey,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters at Istanbul airport on Sunday. “Unfortunately, Russia is making a grave mistake.” | “The steps Russia is taking and the bombing campaign in Syria are quite unacceptable to Turkey,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters at Istanbul airport on Sunday. “Unfortunately, Russia is making a grave mistake.” |
| Turkey and Russia enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, but those relations have soured in recent months because of deep differences over Syria and the stalling of a pipeline project to carry Russian gas to Turkey. | Turkey and Russia enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, but those relations have soured in recent months because of deep differences over Syria and the stalling of a pipeline project to carry Russian gas to Turkey. |
| When asked whether the episode would have a negative impact on Turkey-Russian relations, the Russian presidential press officer, Dmitry S. Peskov, told reporters on Monday that bilateral relations with Turkey were “comprehensive and have a very solid foundation in terms of mutually profitable relations.” | When asked whether the episode would have a negative impact on Turkey-Russian relations, the Russian presidential press officer, Dmitry S. Peskov, told reporters on Monday that bilateral relations with Turkey were “comprehensive and have a very solid foundation in terms of mutually profitable relations.” |
| Mr. Erdogan, however, warned on Sunday that the strikes would “isolate Russia in the region.” | Mr. Erdogan, however, warned on Sunday that the strikes would “isolate Russia in the region.” |
| Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey said on Monday that Moscow had described its violation of Turkey’s airspace as a “mistake,” and said that it would not happen again. | Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey said on Monday that Moscow had described its violation of Turkey’s airspace as a “mistake,” and said that it would not happen again. |
| “I should express it clearly, even if it is Syria, Russia or any other country’s planes, Turkey’s military engagement rules are valid for all,” Mr. Davutoglu said in a television interview. | |
| In the air war, Russia has been gradually ramping up its activities. After a military spokesman over the weekend said that airstrikes in Syria would intensify, the Russian Air Force announced that it had flown 25 sorties overnight Sunday to Monday, after flying an average of 20 sorties a day in the first four days of bombing. | In the air war, Russia has been gradually ramping up its activities. After a military spokesman over the weekend said that airstrikes in Syria would intensify, the Russian Air Force announced that it had flown 25 sorties overnight Sunday to Monday, after flying an average of 20 sorties a day in the first four days of bombing. |
| “Our airstrikes will not only continue, but grow in intensity,” the head of the operations in the General Staff, Andrei Kartapolov, told a briefing in Moscow on Saturday. Russia is targeting command points, ammunition and explosives depots, communications nodes, bomb factories and terrorist training camps. | “Our airstrikes will not only continue, but grow in intensity,” the head of the operations in the General Staff, Andrei Kartapolov, told a briefing in Moscow on Saturday. Russia is targeting command points, ammunition and explosives depots, communications nodes, bomb factories and terrorist training camps. |
| Russia’s incursion into Turkish airspace represents a challenge to President Obama and NATO almost as much as it represents one to Mr. Erdogan, Obama administration officials said. “I think it is fair to say that Vladimir Putin is trying to sticking his toe in, trying to see what the temperature is,” one administration official said on Monday. He added that Mr. Putin “would be wise not to continue to test the waters.” | |
| Publicly though, the administration’s line was far tamer, reflecting in part Mr. Obama’s own determination not to get into a proxy war with Russia in Syria. The president said as much during a news conference last Friday, and aides insisted that his chosen course, so far, was what they described as the more sensible and measured one. | |
| And so, administration officials who have spoken publicly about Russia’s actions in Syria have limited themselves to warning the Russians that they are headed into dangerous territory, without making overt threats. | |
| “Their approach, which is to support Assad rather than a political transition, while meanwhile fighting opponents of Assad, is doomed to fail,” Mr. Carter said at the news conference in Madrid on Monday. He said that the United States and its allies want to fight the Islamic State and to work toward a political transition in which Mr. Assad would leave office. “Russia seems to believe you can have one without the other,” Mr. Carter said. “Right now they’re way off track.” |