Two Lebanese Hezbollah field commanders with troops fighting alongside the Assad regime said they were receiving heavy weapons directly from Russia. Both said Hezbollah is directly receiving long-range tactical missiles, laser guided rockets, and anti-tank weapons from Russia.
The commanders, who declined to use their real names, told the American Daily Beast newspaper that there is a relationship of complete coordination between the Assad regime, Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia. At the same time, they said the direct interdependence between Russia and Hezbollah is increasing.
One of the two field commanders has led units fighting from Latakia to Idlib province, around Damascus, and in the Qalamon Mountains. He said that Russian airstrikes have changed the course of the ground war, where Hezbollah, supported by Iran, has taken the lead.
“Around Latakia was very difficult for us,” he said, but when Moscow’s bombing campaign started in September, “the intervention of the Russians made it much easier.”
The commander also said that the Russians rely on Hezbollah for intelligence and target selection. “Without their air force, we can’t advance and they couldn’t give us air support without our information from the ground,” he said. The commander added that the Russians had also put Special Forces on the ground in the Latakia district, especially around the airport used by Russian planes. (Source: Agencies)
