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        This week, an international security forum is being held in the Russian city of Ufa. At the forum, Russian officials claimed that terrorist groups are attempted to steal advanced weapons technology from Russian military facilities in Syria. According to the Russian hosts, at least one member of the U.S. National Security Council attended the meeting. The White House will not confirm that any U.S. official is attending the conference.
        Alexander Venediktov is the Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary. He told reporters before the event that “The Americans have been skipping our forum in the recent years. But this year we hope to see them at a meeting in Ufa. At least, they have confirmed the visit by one of the U.S. Security Council's directors.”
       It has been announced that Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, will attend the conference. He has stated publicly that there will not be a military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran. He expressed the opinion that the U.S. was using military threats for political purposes. If both Iran and the U.S. send representative to the forum then it is at least possible that they could discuss the escalating tensions between the two countries. He said, “There will not be a military confrontation between Iran and America since there is no reason for a war. Accusing other countries has turned into a common practice among U.S. officials as they try to pressure other counties.”
        Yuri Kokov is the Russia's Deputy Security Council Secretary. He told Forum attendees that, “A number of tendencies in the tactics of international terrorist organizations' steps deserve special attention and analysis. First of all, this concerns the continued attempts to get access to data about the manufacturing of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, their increased attention to issues related to the use of pathogenic biological agents and toxic chemicals for terrorist purposes.” Kokov did not give any details about specific incidents.
       Kokov explained that terrorist groups have used a variety of methods including underwater attacks by swimmers and the use of minors. Kokov’s comments were focused only on the tactics of terrorist groups and not on any of the activities of state actors.
       There have been attacks on civilian targets in Syria which international observers have claimed were carried out by Syria with at least the tacit approval of the Russians. The Syrian government and Russian military representatives have claimed that these attacks were carried out by terrorists. In some cases, they have even gone so far as to accuse the U.S. and allied forces in Syria of staging that attacks to damage the international standing of Syria.
       In view of the occasional confusion over who exactly is carrying out attacks on civilian targets in Syria, international observers are justifiably skeptical about Russia’s claims of terrorist attempting to steal Russian military equipment. If the Russians and Syrians are behind some of the “terrorist” attacks, these claims of terrorist thefts would be a way to divert suspicion if Russian weapons are found to have been used in a “terrorist” attack.