Officials Rule Out Wave of Syria Refugees over Russia Air Campaign

Lebanese officials have ruled out a rise in the number of Syrian refugees after Moscow entered Syria's multi-faceted civil war last month.

The officials, who were not identified, told As Safir daily published on Tuesday that it was highly unlikely for more Syrians to seek safety in Lebanon over the air strikes carried out by Russia to help the Syrian regime.

The hotspots in Syria are currently far from the Lebanese border, they said.

Consequently, a possible wave of Syrian refugees would be directed towards Turkey, the officials added.

Lebanon already hosts around 1.5 million displaced Syrians -- a huge burden for a country of four million people.

Syrian regime forces have recently gained ground in the central province of Hama backed by Russian air power.

Syria's army command has also reported advances in northern Latakia province, the coastal stronghold of the regime, and said regime forces had taken control of a zone outside Aleppo in the north.

G.K.

D.A.