Syrian Foreign Minister:
Russian Airstrikes Planned Months in Advance
BEIRUT (Dispatches) -- Russian airstrikes in Syria had been planned months in advance and will be successful because of their coordination with the Syrian military, Syria's foreign minister was quoted as saying by state news agency SANA on Monday.
"Without a doubt, Russia will win this race," Walid al-Muallem said in an interview with Lebanon-based channel al-Mayadeen, according to a preview of his comments published on SANA.
"I have no doubt at all and the reason behind that is practical and simple, it is because Russia is coordinating with the Syrian Arab Army, which is the only force in Syria that is confronting terrorism," Muallem said.
Russia has established a center in Iraq, involving also Syria and Iran, to coordinate and to exchange information, he added.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said a Russian warplane's "incursion" into the air space of Washington's NATO ally Turkey risked provoking a serious escalation.
"We're greatly concerned about it because it is precisely the kind of thing that had Turkey responded under its rights could have resulted in a shoot-down," he said, at a public event in Chile.
Kerry said he had talked with Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu and had consulted senior colleagues and would push Russia to communicate more clearly about its operations.
"It is precisely the kind of thing that we warned against," he said, referring to the Pentagon's attempts to set up a so-called "de-confliction" mechanism with Russian commanders.
"And it is why we have engaged in initial conversations with Russia about making certain there's no possibility of accidental conflict," he said, speaking in Chile's Congress.
"Those conversations are even more intense now and we will see very quickly if this can be defused," he added.
Meanwhile, UNESCO's director-general condemned the destruction of the Arch of Triumph in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra by ISIL terrorists, saying "extremists are terrified by history and culture".
Irina Bokova said the UN's scientific and cultural body would make every effort to ensure that the perpetrators of the destruction are brought to justice.
ISIL terrorists blew up the arch, dating from between 193 and 211 AD, as part of their sustained campaign of destruction of heritage sites in areas under their control in Syria and Iraq.
The Palmyra site is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List and before this year, attracted an annual 150,000 tourists.
"This new destruction shows how extremists are terrified by history and culture -– because understanding the past undermines and de-legitimizes their claims -– and embodies an expression of pure hatred and ignorance," Bokova said.
She said Palmyra "symbolizes everything that extremists abhor -- cultural diversity, dialogue between cultures (and) the encounter of peoples of all origins".
"There will be no impunity for war criminals, and UNESCO will make every effort, at its level, and in close cooperation with the International Criminal Court, to make sure that the perpetrators of the destruction are tried and punished," Bokova said.
Known as the "Pearl of the Desert", the oasis town of Palmyra is situated about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Damascus and became famous as a stopping point for caravans travelling on the Silk Road.
"I have no doubt at all and the reason behind that is practical and simple, it is because Russia is coordinating with the Syrian Arab Army, which is the only force in Syria that is confronting terrorism," Muallem said.
Russia has established a center in Iraq, involving also Syria and Iran, to coordinate and to exchange information, he added.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said a Russian warplane's "incursion" into the air space of Washington's NATO ally Turkey risked provoking a serious escalation.
"We're greatly concerned about it because it is precisely the kind of thing that had Turkey responded under its rights could have resulted in a shoot-down," he said, at a public event in Chile.
Kerry said he had talked with Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu and had consulted senior colleagues and would push Russia to communicate more clearly about its operations.
"It is precisely the kind of thing that we warned against," he said, referring to the Pentagon's attempts to set up a so-called "de-confliction" mechanism with Russian commanders.
"And it is why we have engaged in initial conversations with Russia about making certain there's no possibility of accidental conflict," he said, speaking in Chile's Congress.
"Those conversations are even more intense now and we will see very quickly if this can be defused," he added.
Meanwhile, UNESCO's director-general condemned the destruction of the Arch of Triumph in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra by ISIL terrorists, saying "extremists are terrified by history and culture".
Irina Bokova said the UN's scientific and cultural body would make every effort to ensure that the perpetrators of the destruction are brought to justice.
ISIL terrorists blew up the arch, dating from between 193 and 211 AD, as part of their sustained campaign of destruction of heritage sites in areas under their control in Syria and Iraq.
The Palmyra site is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List and before this year, attracted an annual 150,000 tourists.
"This new destruction shows how extremists are terrified by history and culture -– because understanding the past undermines and de-legitimizes their claims -– and embodies an expression of pure hatred and ignorance," Bokova said.
She said Palmyra "symbolizes everything that extremists abhor -- cultural diversity, dialogue between cultures (and) the encounter of peoples of all origins".
"There will be no impunity for war criminals, and UNESCO will make every effort, at its level, and in close cooperation with the International Criminal Court, to make sure that the perpetrators of the destruction are tried and punished," Bokova said.
Known as the "Pearl of the Desert", the oasis town of Palmyra is situated about 210 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Damascus and became famous as a stopping point for caravans travelling on the Silk Road.