Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused US-backed Syrian rebels of "bloody provocations" against Russian soldiers. The rebel groups would have encouraged "or terrorists" to attack territories conquered by Syrian army or to "deliberately participate in bloody provocations against our troops," said Lavrov of Saudi newspaper Aschark al-Awsat.

Lavrov, with his accusation, apparently referred to Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) supported by US-led anti-IS coalition in fight against "Islamic State". He argued that all warring parties should now "abandon ir geopolitical ambitions and contribute to restoration of stability and security in Syria" and rest of region. The international sanctions against Government of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad would have to be lifted.

The Russian Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, shared that leader of a terrorist network of Al Qaeda was seriously injured in a Russian air raid in Syria. Abu Mohammed al-Dschulani had taken over leadership of radical Islamic Rebel Alliance Haiat Tahrir al-Shame (HTS) only a few days ago. The attack was to kill twelve commanders of group. The alliance controls large parts of province of Idlib in northwest Syria.

In Syrian civil war, which has been ongoing for more than six years, Russia has supported al-Assad, United States has so far supported various rebel groups with arms deliveries. However, US president Donald Trump had declared this support to be failed. In September, Kurdish-Arab SDF had accused Russia of air raids on its troops, where a fighter had been killed.

Date Of Update: 04 October 2017, 12:06