*SYRIA:* Reports in the Russian media indicate that the Russian Airforcehas deployed its most advanced combat aircraft, the Su-57, to the Syriantheatre. The deployment comes amid an intensification of fighting in thecountry in recent weeks with the incursion by Turkish forces in Afrin andbombardment by Russian backed Syrian government forces in Eastern Ghoutawhere more than 400 people are reported to have died.

The Russian government admitted earlier this week that dozens of Russiancitizens were killed in a US Airforce strike at Deir ez-Zor on 7 February.

The incident marked the first time since the 2015 Russian intervention inthe conflict that Russian citizens died in a US military action.

The Russian Su-57 is a fifth-generation aircraft that has been indevelopment for years and has been deployed at an active combat theatre forthe first time. The Kremlin has not commented on the reports.

Analysts claim that the deployment of the Su-57 makes sense from a businessstandpoint as it allows the Russian government to publicise the performanceof the aircraft for potential buyers such as the Indian Airforce. It isnot clear if the Jets would be used for actual combat operations.

The Su-57 was designed as a Russian response to US fifth-generationaircraft the F-22, which was also deployed in Syria earlier this month.AGENCIES