U.S. intelligence officials and Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) officers are holding consultations in Iraq on countering Russia’s presence in Syria. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to a military-diplomatic source in Damascus.
“In parallel, in Iraq, American intelligence officers and officers of the Security Service of Ukraine hold regular joint consultations on the issue of countering the Russian presence in Syria. In particular, a decision was also made to multiply the number of territorial structures,” the source said.
The source clarified that the task of “recruiting militants and transporting them to Syria is entrusted to the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Kurdish Autonomous Region of Iraq, Farhad Ali Shaker,” and their combat training will be carried out by “Ukrainian specialists who have been instructed at American bases in Iraq.”
In another article, RIA Novosti, citing a source, reported that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is negotiating with Kurdish self-defense units and sheikhs of a number of Arab clans. The militants, according to the interlocutor, are offered a monthly salary of $2,000.
The Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) reported in February that the United States was recruiting jihadist fighters to carry out terrorist attacks in Russia and the CIS countries. The service said that at the beginning of the year, 60 militants with experience in combat operations in the Middle East were selected. The department noted that such actions put Washington “on a par” with international terrorist groups.
Source : vedomosti.ru
