ISIS US Strike Countdown: Consult Damascus First, or Matters Will only Worsen in Syria – Lavrov
The announced expanded US airstrike meant to target the terrorist group ISIS must be coordinated first with Syrian President Bashar Assad, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reminded US President Barack Obama. Otherwise, Washington's tactics are moves meant to justify terrorism.
Mr Obama has categorically allowed on Wednesday a bombing campaign in both Syria and Iraq against the Islamic State militants, even as he acknowledged authorities have yet to unravel any plans by the group that directly threat US homeland.
"We will conduct a systematic campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists," he said. "I will not hesitate to take action against Isil in Syria, as well as Iraq."
Lavrov reminded the American president that meddling in the internal strife hitting Syria today would only fuel the atrocities in the region.
Lavrov told reporters in Moscow after a meeting with the foreign minister of Mali that it was Mr Assad's brand of politics that gave rise to the terrorism now rampaging Syria. He said the threat of ISIS could only be controlled and eliminated with the demand of Mr Assad's resignation.
In advance of Mr Obama's speech on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Pentagon revealed it has started working on identifying suitable targets in Syria.
To date, at least 154 attacks on ISIS targets have been conducted by the U.S. Destroyed or damaged were 162 vehicles, including a pair of tanks.
Russian authorities said they are highly suspicious of the US' expanded airstrikes because it is "a double standard" all in favor of the US and its allies.
"There are reasons to suspect that air strikes on Syrian territory may target not only areas controlled by Islamic State militants, but the government troops may also be attacked on the quiet to weaken the positions of Bashar Assad's army," inSerbia quoted Lavrov.
If this happens, the conflict currently eating and degrading the Middle East and North Africa will all the more escalate, he said.
In August, Walid al-Moallem, the Syrian foreign minister, said Syria is willing to work with the US and its allies in vaporising the ISIS, but maintained that any battle plan targeted against the militants, including airstrikes, must be first coordinated with Damascus.
Damascus would automatically consider it an aggression if the US does not heed Syria's warning.
Russia believed the US and its allies never really cared about the supposed threat of the ISIS, not until when it started to affect Iraq.
"Western partners for some reason think that this threat should be eliminated on the territory of Iraq, while on the territory of Syria it might be left to the consideration of those who conduct the operation," Lavrov said.
Mr Obama's full speech here.
