ATHENS: The United States has asked Greece to bar Russian supply flights to Syria from its airspace, a Greek official said Monday, as Moscow vowed to continue arming the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
"We received the (US) request on Saturday and are examining it," a Greek foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
Washington is concerned that Moscow could be increasing its military support to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, an issue raised by US Secretary of State John Kerry to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov over the weekend.
The New York Times has reported that Russia has sent a military advance team to Syria and was taking other steps that Washington fears may signal plans to vastly expand its military support for President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia has asked Greece to permit the passage of two planes between September 1 and 24, the Greek official said.
Moscow has dismissed American concerns, saying its aid to al-Assad is nothing extraordinary.
AFP
