Russia concerned about US surveillance flights in Syria

The Russian foreign ministry has expressed concern over the recent decision by the US to authorise surveillance flights over Syria, a statement said on Friday.

The spokesman of the Russian foreign ministry Alexander Lukashevich pointed out that Washington justifies this move by claiming that it seeks to protect its citizens abroad from the attacks of Islamist extremists and to prepare for attacking IS in Iraq.

The Syrian government, he added, is concerned about the rising influence of extremist elements on Syrian territories, and expressed its readiness to cooperate with the international community to deal with this issue.

The Russian ministry expressed its hope that the US will uphold international law in its future stances on Syria.