Syria: Russia's Motives Behind Military Build-Up

US officials say they expect Russia to launch combat operations against rebels in Syria "very soon," following reports of a massive airlift of ammunition, Russian heavy armour and anti-aircraft missiles to back up the Damascus regime.

The Pentagon has now tracked 15 flights of Russian Antonov-124 "Condor" flights into Syria and has seen two more Russian ships offload military cargo - including half a dozen tanks - according to the latest intelligence, a defence official told Fox News.

Russian T-90 tanks have been seen by independent observers on the perimeter of Latakia airport on the Mediterranean coast, not far from the Russian naval base at Tartous.

Last weekend two Russian naval tank transport ships were seen docking in Tartous, and Latakia airport has been extended and re-surfaced.

The drastic increase in Russian support for the Syrian regime could be seen as an attempt to prevent it collapsing under a successful rebel onslaught by the Army of Islam, the Jaish al Islam, which is not associated with Islamic State.

But Russian-made and manned SA-22 anti-aircraft missile systems have also been sent to Syria - and neither ISIS nor the rebels have any aircraft.

This will inevitably lead to the conclusion that Russia is sending its state-of-the-art anti-aircraft technology to the battlefield to head off any attempt to establish a no-fly zone to prevent Assad from bombing his own population.

In addition to the influx of tanks and artillery, 35 armoured personnel carriers have also been sent by Russia which is also building accommodation for up to 1,500 troops.

Last week Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, called on the US to coordinate its operations against the so-called Islamic State as part of a "war on terror".

Washington has refused to look at the idea - the US is also backing moderate Syrian rebels and other allies, notably Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, are offering substantial resources to the Jaish al Islam in the battle against the Assad regime.

Assad's forces have been able to fly freely around Syria picking off targets at will while the US-led coalition has targeted only Islamic State.

The Turks have argued for some time that this is nonsensical as most of the regional instability stems from the Assad regime – and most refugees fleeing the slaughter there are running from his barrel bombs into neighbouring countries and on into Europe.

It is clear the Kremlin is keen to exploit this western equivocation over Assad but can only do so if the regime itself shows that it can survive. The arrival of Russian tanks and missiles, naval infantry and artillery will heartily cheer the Assad family.