Russia used Syria for weapons practice: US Army general

TORONTO, Canada (Kurdistan24) – A United States Army Commander in Europe recently said Russia’s bombardment in Syria was a chance for them to test their weapons capabilities.

Lieutenant General Ben Hodges told the BBC Russia’s military campaign in Syria was a “live-fire training opportunity.”

“What we see in Syria, of course, is a demonstration of capabilities,” he said.

“They’re using weapons systems in certain situations that are not necessarily required for that tactical situation,” Hodges continued.

“They’re demonstrating that they have these capabilities, practicing if you will,” the Lieutenant General added.

Since the civil war began in Syria in 2011, Russia has been providing President Bashar al-Assad’s government with military aid.

Additionally, direct Russian military involvement in Syria began on Sep. 30, 2015, with air strikes in Homs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made no secret of his support for Assad when his country vetoed draft resolutions in the UN Security Council demanding the resignation of the Syrian President.

Moreover, Hodges accused Russia of disregarding civilian lives in Syria, adding that their campaign in the country was not “helpful.”

“[Russia’s military involvement in Syria] is a live-fire opportunity to experiment and train with all their weapons systems,” he stated.

“Of course the disregard for civilian casualties that we see, in places like Aleppo, that’s not the conduct of a nation that wants to be a superpower and be treated like a superpower,” the Lieutenant General continued.

Hodges is a US Army officer who serves as commanding general for the United States Army Europe responsible for operations in the continent. 

Editing by Ava Homa