Speaking in Madrid at the start of a five-day trip to Europe, Carter told Spanish military officials that by carrying out bombing in Syria, Russia had only worsened the four-year conflict.
Russia last week started air strikes in Syria to eliminate the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri group.
"Russia has escalated the civil war, putting further at risk the very political resolution and preservation of Syria's structure of future governance it says that it wants," Carter said.
"It remains my hope that Vladimir Putin will see that tethering Russia to a sinking ship is a losing strategy, and will decide to confront the threat presented by ISIL instead of continuing its unilateral airstrikes against Assad’s opposition."
Carter's trip is aimed at acknowledging allies in the 60-plus member US-led coalition that is carrying out daily drone and plane strikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.
almanar.com.lb
5/10/15
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Syria's foreign minister says Russian airstrikes and its new military "steps" in Syria took months of preparations....
ReplyDeleteWalid al-Moallem says in remarks broadcast on Beirut's Al-Mayadeen TV that Russia closely coordinates with the Syrian army over its airstrikes. The full interview with will be aired later Monday.
Russia launched its air campaign Wednesday and claims it's targeting ISIS and al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, but at least some of the strikes appear to have hit Western-backed rebel factions.
The Russian attacks have largely focused on the northwestern and central provinces - the gateways to the heartland of Syrian President Bashar Assad's power-base in the capital, Damascus, and on the Mediterranean coast.
Russian airstrikes Monday reportedly hit in the central province of Homs and Idlib in the northwest.
AP