ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country is ready to provide air support to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) who are also supported by the US-led International Coalition.
In an interview aired on Russian State TV on Saturday, the Russian foreign minister said that their air force, which started attacking Islamic State (ISIS) positions in Syria early October, is ready to help FSA as well.
“We are ready to back the patriotic opposition, including the so-called Free Syrian Army, with our air support. However, Washington is refusing to inform us of the location of the terrorists and where the opposition is based,” Lavrov told Russian state TV.
The FSA has long condemned the Russian airstrikes, claiming that they, not ISIS, have been the main target of the attacks.
Lavrov’s offer comes after one day of quadrilateral talks in Vienna between US, Russian, Turkish and Saudi foreign ministers on seeking a political settlement for the Syria crisis.
"External players cannot decide anything for the Syrians. We must force them to come up with a plan for their country where the interests of every religious, ethnic and political group will be well protected," Lavrov was quoted as saying.
In an interview aired on Russian State TV on Saturday, the Russian foreign minister said that their air force, which started attacking Islamic State (ISIS) positions in Syria early October, is ready to help FSA as well.
“We are ready to back the patriotic opposition, including the so-called Free Syrian Army, with our air support. However, Washington is refusing to inform us of the location of the terrorists and where the opposition is based,” Lavrov told Russian state TV.
The FSA has long condemned the Russian airstrikes, claiming that they, not ISIS, have been the main target of the attacks.
Lavrov’s offer comes after one day of quadrilateral talks in Vienna between US, Russian, Turkish and Saudi foreign ministers on seeking a political settlement for the Syria crisis.
"External players cannot decide anything for the Syrians. We must force them to come up with a plan for their country where the interests of every religious, ethnic and political group will be well protected," Lavrov was quoted as saying.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment