“At the request of the Syrian government, we’re helping them to fight ISIS and other terrorist groups”, Lavrov said.
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“If Russia’s recent actions and those now ongoing reflect a genuine commitment to defeat that organization then we are prepared to welcome those efforts and define the way to de-conflict our operations”.
Reflecting growing tension between the big powers, Kerry phoned his Russian counterpart Lavrov early on Wednesday to tell him the United States regarded the strikes as unsafe, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signs the United Nations…
“Our message to the Russians – I met with Putin – please join this fight against Da’esh”, he said, using another name for ISIS.
Lavrov rejected claims that Russian Federation was targeting Syrian opposition groups to support its close ally, President Bashar Assad, repeating several times that Moscow was going after the same targets as the USA coalition – the Islamic State group, the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and other extremist groups.
A USA defense official confirmed that talks between the US and Russian militaries could take place within the next day, possibly via secure video-conference or in person.
He warned, however, that the US would question Russian motives, should Moscow target areas where militants are not operating.
Khaled Khoja, leader of the Syrian National Coalition – the country’s main opposition group – also denounced the airstrikes, which, he said, killed 36 civilians in areas free from ISIS or al Qaeda control.
Lavrov wouldn’t confirm reports that Syrian government troops and Shiite fighters are preparing for a major ground offensive backed by Russian airstrikes, saying only that Moscow was carrying out airstrikes in coordination with Syria’s army.
Lavrov questioned the U.S.-led coalition’s legitimacy, given the mission had not received the consent of the United Nations Security Council or any “request of one of the countries on whose territories they operate”.
He was critical of U.S. Secretary of State Ash Carter’s comments Wednesday that Russia’s decision to launch airstrikes against the IS group while supporting Assad, without pursuing a parallel political transition, was tantamount “to pouring gasoline on the fire”. An Obama administration official told CNN’s Barbara Starr that the incursion was not so much “an invasion” as an “uncontested arrival” and that understanding this distinction was crucial to making sense of the developments.
Strikes of that kind would question Russian Federation real intentions in its fight against Daesh, he said.
The Free Syrian Army was set up by Syrian army defectors after the uprising against Assad began in 2011.
Another fighter, Mukhlif Hussein al-Tamer, from Idlib, said: “My message to the Russian bear – no matter how much you gather your force in Syria, do not think we are afraid of your failing forces“.
A U.S.-led coalition has been striking Daesh in Syria since September, building upon an aerial campaign already hitting the terrorist group in Iraq.
But 24 hours into the military campaign, there were concerns it was targeting those who oppose al-Assad, including more moderate factions that are supported by the United States and others in the West.
Lavrov said Russian Federation is ready to “forge standing channels of communication to ensure a maximally effective fight”.
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US officials might have been expected to condemn the Russian aggression in the strongest terms.
