Russia will consider any request from the embattled Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad to send its troops to fight Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the Kremlin said on Friday.
With concerns already growing over Russia’s military presence in war-torn Syria, the comments are one of the clearest indications to date that troop deployments in Syria may be imminent.
“If there is a request then, within the framework of bilateral contact and two-way dialogue, it will, of course, be discussed and considered,” said Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Western officials have criticised Moscow — which has been a key international backer of Assad — in recent weeks for an apparent military build-up in Syria they say could further prolong the country’s four-year conflict.
Russia has denied the presence of any additional forces, although it admits it is supplying Assad with significant military and technical support. It has refused to rule out air strikes or troop deployments in Syria, where it has a key Mediterranean naval base.
Evidence of a ramped up Russian military presence in Syria has been growing in recent days and Russian news website gazeta.ru published interviews on Friday with four Russian contract soldiers who said they had refused to take part in an urgent deployment to Syria that officers said could involve combat operations.
Syria's foreign minister Walid al-Moualem said on Thursday that Russia had provided new weapons and trained Syrian troops how to use them, and told state television the government would be prepared ask Russian forces to fight alongside its troops if needed.
Walid al-Moualem, Syria's foreign minister Photo: Rex
Mr Putin warned earlier this week that Isil’s influence has spread “far beyond” the borders of Iraq and Syria, but that it is as yet “too early” to talk about air strikes in support of Assad against Isil.
The Kremlin maintains that its aims in Syria are to combat terrorism, preserve Syrian statehood and prevent the spread of violence in the region.
US and Russian defence chiefs spoke for the first time in over a year on Friday, breaking their silence to discuss the crisis in Syria as Moscow's increasing military buildup raised the prospect of coordination between the former Cold War foes.
The Pentagon said the call lasted about 50 minutes and included an agreement for further US-Russian talks about ways to keep their respective militaries out of each other's way.
Washington last year cut off high-level military talks with Moscow after Russia's annexation of Crimea and intervention in Ukraine.
But Russia's buildup at Syria's Latakia airbase raises the possibility of simultaneous US and Russian air combat missions in Syrian airspace.
In figures sharply revised upwards from previous estimates, a top Russian security service official said on Friday that there were 2,400 Russians currently fighting for Isil as well as 3,000 from neighbouring Central Asian countries.
Russia has seen a steady flow of its citizens leaving for Iraq and Syria, principally from the mainly Muslim North Caucasus.