Lavrov: Russian, US Military Action in Syria to Be Coordinated ‘Very Soon’

The United States has been conducting airstrikes in Syria within the framework of international coalition efforts aimed at defeating Islamic State radicals that have ceased vast areas in Syria and Iraq.

 

Russia’s upper house of parliament unanimously approved the use of the Russian forces to provide air support to the Syrian Army in its fight against extremist groups including ISIL on Wednesday.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama discussed the Syrian issue on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. According to a White House official, the two leaders agreed that Russian and US militaries should maintain constant contact in what concerns Syria in order to avoid any conflicts between them.
Lavrov stressed on Wednesday that while Russian military action in Syria is being conducted at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad and is thus in line with the UN charter, US-led coalition strikes are being carried out without the approval of Damascus or the UN Security Council.

 

The Russian foreign minister admitted after his Wednesday meeting with Kerry that disagreements remain between the United States and Russia on the Syrian issue.

 

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