At a meeting in London with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, Kerry said the USA president hoped that talks would “help define some of the different options available to us as we consider next steps in Syria”.

“We have seen movement of people and things that would indicate that they plan to use that base there, south of Latakia, as a forward air operating base,” Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told a news briefing.

The United States defence secretary, Ash Carter, concerned over the possibility of rival U.S. and Russian air operations in Syria’s limited airspace, agreed in a call with his Russian counterpart to explore ways to avoid accidental military interactions.

Washington, which wants Assad gone from power, has said it believes Russian Federation is undertaking a significant military buildup which could exacerbate the war.

“Without an active participation of the Syrian authorities and the military, it would be impossible to expel the terrorists from that country and the region as a whole, and to protect the multi-ethnic and multi-confessional Syrian people from destruction”, Putin said.

Russian officials have recently stressed that Moscow will continue providing military aid to Damascus, and that the military support will be accompanied by Russian specialists.

“We all mourn these innocent victims, but is one life lost drowned at sea more valuable than those who have died in Syria“, he asked.

“He will describe the threats to Israel following the military reinforcement in the Syrian arena and the supply of weapons to Hezbollah and other terrorist organisations”.

Islamic State imposed a curfew in two parts of the city. “In fact, the army has started using some of these (weapon) types”, revealed the source.

Reuters has previously reported on USA assessments that Russian Federation has sent about 200 naval infantry forces, battle tanks, artillery and other equipment to an airfield near Latakia, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Syrian officials say the Russian military presence is restricted to experts.

“When we say militarily, it doesn’t mean – as claimed by some in the Western media – that Iran has sent an army or armed forces to Syria“.

“We have made clear from the beginning of our actions inside of Syria that it was, you know, the responsibility of the Syrian government to not interfere in our activities”, said White House press secretary Josh Earnest.