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DAMASCUS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- An oppositional monitor group said Thursday that thousands of Iranian forces are arriving in Syria's coastal city of Latakia.
The Iranian forces are being transported to the old part of the Basel al-Assad international airport of Latakia, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The London-based group also said the Russian air force, which has been striking rebel positions in Syria since late September, are stationed in the new part of the airport.
It said the airport has stopped receiving international flights and has been turned into a base for the Iranian forces and the Russians.
The Iranian forces are arriving to take part in battles in the northern countryside of the central province of Hama, the countryside of the northwestern province of Idlib and the Latakia Mountains, said the Observatory, adding that the Russian air force is taking part in those battles.
The Observatory said Russian forces are working on the construction of a long runway in the Latakia airport capable of receiving larger warplanes.
It said the Russians are also expanding the al-Hamidiyeh airport in the coastal city of Tartus, another sign signifying the expansion of the Russian and Iranian involvement in Syria.
The Latakia airbase has recently witnessed the arrival of "hundreds" of Russian military advisors and experts, it said.
Iran and Russia are the main allies of the Syrian government in the face of a long-standing insurgency.
