WASHINGTON – The United States believes a small number of Russian fighter jets are now at an airfield in Syria, two US officials told Reuters on Friday, a move that adds significant air power to a military buildup that has stoked concern in Washington.
One of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there were four Russian jets at the airfield near Latakia, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The second official declined to offer a precise figure.