Russian Warships Headed to Syria Withdraw Request to Refuel in Spain

Russia canceled its refueling stop in Spain for three warships reportedly heading to Syria, BBC News reported.

The stopovers were canceled amid NATO pressure on Spain not to allow Russia to refuel in the Spanish port of Ceuta. No request had been made for the main vessel to refuel, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, who issued a statement saying the vessels had enough resources.

“Given the information which appeared on the possibility that these ships would participate in supporting military action in the Syrian city of Aleppo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested clarification from the embassy of the Russian Federation in Madrid,” the Spanish Foreign Ministry said.

Russia reportedly withdrew its request following the Spanish ministry’s request for clarification.

Russia is a key ally of the Syrian government, and has participated in airstrikes on the war-torn country that have caused international outrage, with the U.S. and France calling for a war crimes investigation of the two countries’ bombing of Aleppo.

“We are concerned and I have expressed that very clearly about the potential use of this battle group to increase Russia’s ability and to be a platform for airstrikes against Syria,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary-general.

The vessels include Russia’s only aircraft carrier, a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, two antisubmarine warships and four support vessels, and are expected to join Russian ships already off the Syrian coast.

Andrei Kelin, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official, told RIA news agency that NATO should not be worried about the naval group.

“The concerns are not based on anything as our planes have not come near Aleppo for nine days. Our battle group is in the Mediterranean. Our ships have always had a presence there,” Kelin said.

Battle for Raqqa Will Start Soon, U.S., U.K. Officials Say

The offensive to take the Syrian city of Raqqa from the so-called Islamic State will begin in a few weeks, AFP reported.

Top U.S. and U.K. defense officials announced the upcoming offensive on Wednesday, 10 days into a major U.S.-backed offensive on the extremists in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Isolating the militants in their Syrian stronghold of Raqqa should happen in parallel with the attack on their stronghold in the Iraqi city of Mosul, said U.S. defense secretary Ashton Carter.

“It will be within weeks, not many weeks,” Carter said, adding that the U.S. may work with Turkey, its NATO ally, to capture Raqqa.

“So we are looking for other opportunities including further within Syria, to include Raqqa. That’s been part of our discussions,” Carter added.

Syria Denies Using Chemical Weapons Amid Accusations of Third Gas Attack

The Syrian government denied using chemical weapons on Wednesday, days after an international investigation accused the Syrian government of being responsible for a third toxic gas attack, Reuters reported.

Syrian state news agency SANA said the Foreign Ministry “denies … the accusations circulated by some Western circles and their institutions about the use of chemical materials … during military operations.”

A joint investigation by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) previously determined the Syrian government was responsible for at least two toxic gas attacks between 2014 and 2015; the inquiry’s fourth report blamed Syrian forces for a third attack.

Recommended Reads:

• The Intercept: Syria’s “Voice of Conscience” Has a Message for the West
• Al-Monitor: Syria Rejects Russian Proposal for Kurdish Federation
• Pluto Press: Hezbollah, Syria and the Arab Uprisings
• Human Rights Watch: Syria: Improvised Mines Kill, Injure Hundreds in Manbij
• The Guardian: Why Clinton’s Plans for a No-Fly-Zone in Syria Could Provoke U.S.-Russia Conflict