Russia looks to recruit Syrian soldiers

United States officials told the Journal that Moscow is specifically recruiting Syrian fighters for their expertise in urban combat fighting.

An American assessment indicates that Russia, which has been operating inside Syria since 2015, has in recent days been recruiting fighters from there, hoping their expertise in urban combat can help take Kyiv and deal a devastating blow to the Ukrainian government, according to four American officials.

The move points to a potential escalation of fighting in Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal said citing experts.

Troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Russia, have been fighting a fierce battle in urban centres for nearly a decade, giving them a skill set hard to find among Russian troops, The Hill reported.

One official said while it’s unclear how many Syrian fighters will join the battle, some are already in Russia preparing to enter the conflict, per the Journal.

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