IRISH soldiers are being threatened with fearsome Russian “flying tanks” in the Middle East.
The Irish Sun has learned a Russian KA-52 Alligator helicopter carried out a fly-over at the Irish UN camp in Syria last week in a move branded “clear intimidation”.
It is understood an armed MI-8 helicopter was also present.
Russian KA-52 Alligators inflicted a high cost on Ukraine during their offensive.
Now the tooled-up choppers are targeting Irish soldiers who are serving as part of a United Nations force in Syria.
Independent TD Cathal Berry last night described the Russian fly over development as “concerning” and “menacing”.
The ex-Army Ranger told us: “It is an indication of a further escalation in the Middle East. It is very menacing.
“The Russians are pushing in against the border. The Irish soldiers would be about 20 kilometres away from the border. You are talking about a helicopter gunship. It is a flying tank.
“It is clearly intended to intimidate. The Russians are reoccupying the area. It is clear Russia is flexing its muscles in the area.”
The Irish Defence Forces have personnel serving in various UN operations across Lebanon, Syria and Israel.
Amidst escalating tensions in the region, Russia President Vladimir Putin has ramped up air patrols in the area.
The Russian Ministry of Defense recently announced the start of military air patrols along the disengagement line between Syria and the Golan Heights in southern Syria.
Admiral Vadim Kulit, the Deputy Head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation which is affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense, said that the Russian air forces began air patrols along the “Bravo Line” that divides the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel.
MONITORING THE SITUATION
The Russian news agency, TASS, reported the objective of the patrols is to monitor the situation along the disengagement line between the two sides.
Kulit said that the aviation units of the Russian Aerospace Forces organized air patrols along the disengagement line known as the “Bravo Line.”
The patrols came days after the Russian Defense Ministry announced the deployment of two new points in the occupied Syrian Golan, saying it was monitoring the ceasefire between Syria and Israel.
On January 3, Admiral Vadim Kulit stated that his country had established two military points in southern Syria against the backdrop of increasing provocations in the “demilitarized zone.”
TASS reported at the time that the new points were stationed with units of the Russian military police to “monitor the ceasefire.”
It is understood the military posts were located in the villages of Mualaqah and Ghadir al-Bustan south of Quneitra.
After an absence of more than a year, Russia resumed its military patrols in southern Syria at the beginning of November 2023.
