Russia:
U.S. May Seek Longer Stay in Syria
MOSCOW (Dispatches) – Russian has warned of the U.S. might have plan to continue its military presence in Syria for a long term in an attempt to create a "quasi-state” in the eastern areas of the country.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking at a Tuesday press conference, criticized the U.S. for its "completely different” position with regard to its future military presence in Syria, adding, "We have a suspicion…. that the United States wants to stay there for a long time, if not forever."
"The Americans, in my opinion … are trying to act by dangerous unilateral steps. And by the way, these steps look more and more like part of a line for creating a certain quasi-state on a large part of the Syrian territory — on the eastern bank of the Euphrates and up to the Iraqi border," he added.
Moscow and Washington support opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. Russia assists the Syrian government and has been carrying out an aerial bombardment campaign against terrorist positions in Syria.
The U.S.-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.
The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of achieving its declared goal of destroying Daesh.
Lavrov warned that the U.S. policies "undermine the territorial integrity of Syria," expressing hope that the UN will prevent "external players” from undermining the Security Council’s road map for a peace process in the country.
The Russian foreign minister pointed to the ongoing international efforts to hold talks between the Syrian government and the opposition and reaffirmed Moscow’s support for participation of Kurdish factions in the process.
This file photo taken on March 5, 2017 shows a convoy of U.S. armored vehicles driving near the village of Yalanli, on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Manbij.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking at a Tuesday press conference, criticized the U.S. for its "completely different” position with regard to its future military presence in Syria, adding, "We have a suspicion…. that the United States wants to stay there for a long time, if not forever."
"The Americans, in my opinion … are trying to act by dangerous unilateral steps. And by the way, these steps look more and more like part of a line for creating a certain quasi-state on a large part of the Syrian territory — on the eastern bank of the Euphrates and up to the Iraqi border," he added.
Moscow and Washington support opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. Russia assists the Syrian government and has been carrying out an aerial bombardment campaign against terrorist positions in Syria.
The U.S.-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.
The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of achieving its declared goal of destroying Daesh.
Lavrov warned that the U.S. policies "undermine the territorial integrity of Syria," expressing hope that the UN will prevent "external players” from undermining the Security Council’s road map for a peace process in the country.
The Russian foreign minister pointed to the ongoing international efforts to hold talks between the Syrian government and the opposition and reaffirmed Moscow’s support for participation of Kurdish factions in the process.
This file photo taken on March 5, 2017 shows a convoy of U.S. armored vehicles driving near the village of Yalanli, on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Manbij.