“If battling terrorism is a priority, than all opportunistic considerations, like a regime change in Syria, should be put aside”, he added.
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Russian Overseas Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded on her Fb web page, saying Russia isn’t making an attempt to hide the presence of its servicemen who’re concerned in a “military-technical co-operation with a respectable authorities”.
Smoke billows from the detonation of the 2000-year-old temple of Baalshamin in Syria’s ancient caravan city of Palmyra, as seen in this image published last month on a social media site used by Islamic State militants.
Kirby did note that the Pentagon has “routine military-to-military exchanges and dialogue with Russian Federation, just as a matter of course”.
As for the naval drills conducted in the Mediterranean, Lavrov said he had no exact information about the schedule of the drills, but confirmed that they take place on a regular basis.
“It appears now that Assad is anxious enough that he’s inviting Russian advisors in and Russian equipment in….”
The Liberals have said they would also discontinue the bombing canpaign, but maintain and possbly bulk up the training mission.
Moscow has been calling on to the US-led anti-ISIS coalition to team up with the Syrian army from the very beginning of airstrikes against Islamic State one year ago.
“We’ll continue to keep the lines of communication open as we feel we need to to gain better clarity”, Kirby said.
On Friday, Russian Federation called on Washington to restart direct military-to-military cooperation to avert “unintended incidents” in Syria.
“The strategy they’re pursuing now, doubling down on Assad, I think is a big mistake”, Obama said Friday in remarks to military personnel at Fort Meade, Maryland. “The worldwide community can not, in my view, facilitate and oversee a set of elections in which somebody guilty of crimes on the scale that Assad has committed is able to run for office”. The U.S.is deepening agreements with Turkey to use its bases and clear its border of ISIS fighters.
According to a report by Reuters on Friday, the Western officials said the SA-22 system would be operated by Russian troops, rather than Syrians.
Russian Federation is also staging naval exercises off Syria’s coast. At least five missile-armed ships will take part, Reuters reported. “It is important to avoid undesirable unintended incidents”.
Russia’s latest moves caught the USA and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation by surprise.
State Department press secretary John Kirby wouldn’t directly answer when pressed today on whether Lavrov was making a threat.
Russian Federation has been a longtime backer of Syria’s government, and it has supported Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the civil war by shielding him from United Nations sanctions and providing weapons. “We are following the developments and keeping open channels with Moscow“. Russian Federation has noted that the shipments are generally aimed at supporting Syria’s war against ISIS. Many have travelled to European countries, creating a refugee crisis.
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“At this point, it’s hard to tell exactly what they’re planning to do”, he said.
