Cuba may deploy troops in Syria to aid Russia's efforts

Cuba may deploy troops in Syria to aid Russia's efforts
By Andrew V. Pestano | Oct. 15, 2015 at 9:05 AM

MIAMI, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The head of Cuba's military recently visited
Syria with soldiers, lending to speculation that Cuba may deploy ground
troops in the conflict recently joined by Russia.

The University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies
on Tuesday revealed that Gen. Leopoldo Cintra Frias, minister of the
Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, visited Syria with a group of Cuban
military personnel in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The institute believes the Cuban military will aid Syrian and Russian
efforts to combat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's enemies, including
several rebel groups and the Islamic State, also known as ISIL, Daesh or
ISIS.

"The Cuban military contingent will be primarily deployed in Syria
manning Russian tanks provided to Assad by the Russians," the institute
said in a statement. "It will also operate as a military force against
ISIS and other opponents of the Assad regime."

An anonymous U.S. official confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday that Cuban
paramilitary and special forces units were on the ground in Syria. The
source also said Cuban troops may have trained in Russia before arriving
in Syria on Russian planes.

Russia recently began conducting airstrikes to aid Assad, a long-time
ally, against IS targets, but Russian military aircraft have also
admittedly targeted rebel forces who oppose Assad's rule, including some
rebels who the United States considers moderates.

More than 250,000 people have died and more than 4 million have been
displaced by the Syrian civil war. A U.S.-led coalition has carried out
airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq for more than
a year.

The Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies said Cuba's
involvement in the Syrian civil war in order to aid Russia has roots
seen in history.

"This is not the first time that Cuban military personnel have been
involved in international military missions in support of Russian
objectives. In the 1970s, Cuba sent several hundred thousand troops to
Angola and other African countries while the Soviets provided weapons to
support African leaders attempting to gain power in their countries,"
the institute added. "In 1973, Cuba sent troops to Syria to support them
in the Yom Kippur War against Israel. Cuba also sent military officers
to observe Israeli military tactics and to advise Assad."

Source: Cuba may deploy ground troops in Syria to aid Russia's efforts -
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