Quoted by Russian news agencies on September 18, Dmitry Peskov said that, if such a request is made, it will be “discussed and considered”, but he insisted the question is purely hypothetical at this stage. “For now, it’s hard to speak hypothetically”.
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Top U.S. and Russian defence officials have held their first talks in more than a year to discuss the Syrian conflict, the Pentagon says.
“If the need arises, Syria would not hesitate to request this of Russia”, the Syrian FM said, adding “at the moment there are no Russian troops in Syria“.
A senior U.S. defense official, recounting details of the conversation, said Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had described Moscow’s activities in Syria as defensive in nature.
“Our focus remains on destroying ISIL (Islamic State militants) and also on a political settlement with respect to Syria, which we believe can not be achieved with the long-term presence of (President Bashar al-) Assad“, Kerry told reporters.
He also reiterated to Lavrov the USA “commitment” to create a coalition of more than 60 countries to combat the Islamic State, a coalition of which he said Assad could never be a credible member.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Moscow was prepared to provide Washington with information on its military cooperation with Damascus. US military branches have said they would factor Russian Federation into their military budgets for 2017, and military officials have described Russian Federation as a threat to the U.S.
The United States and a number of its allies are flying strike missions into Syrian air space and they don’t want to have any misunderstandings with Russia’s forces there. In recent days Russian Federation has sent about a half-dozen battle tanks and other weaponry – along with military advisers, technicians, security guards and portable housing units – to Syria with the apparent goal of setting up an air base near the coastal town of Latakia, a stronghold of the Syrian president.
The United States has opened the door to possible tactical discussions with Russian Federation about the war in Syria, as Moscow’s deepening military presence forces the prospect of co-ordination between the former Cold War foes.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 18 people were killed in the raids that hit several areas in the city and its outskirts, including a maternity hospital.
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“There are modern weapons that the regime didn’t previously have, be they rocket launchers or air to ground to missiles”, said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Observatory.
