According to a senior officer from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the head of Syrian military intelligence, General ‘Ali Mamlouk, traveled to Beirut last week in order to attend a meeting with the head of Egypt’s military intelligence.
The meeting was facilitated by Russian security officials and meant to strengthen the renewed alliance between Syria and Egypt after the latter broke-off all diplomatic ties under their former president – Mohammad Morsi – in late 2012.
The source added that both parties agreed upon a contingency for Russia’s presence inside west Syria; this included the possible use of Egyptian airspace for the Russian Air Force.