clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Kerry: US would welcome Russian military action in Syria if aimed at Daesh

October 1, 2015 at 8:55 am

US Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States is willing to welcome Russian military intervention in Syria as long as it is directed against the Daesh and Al-Qaeda.

“If Russia’s recent actions, and those now ongoing, reflect a genuine commitment to defeat the Daesh organisation, then we are prepared to welcome those efforts,” Kerry said, using another acronym for Daesh.

Speaking at the UN Security Council yesterday, Kerry pointed out that the US would have “grave concerns” if Russia conducted strikes against other groups.

The Russian operations must not support Syrian President Bashar Assad or interfere with the plans of the US-led coalition that is already attacking Islamic States targets, he added.

US forces, he explained, are ready to “de-conflict” with Russian forces, communicate to avoid accidental encounters on the battlefield “thereby multiply military pressure on Daesh and affiliated groups. But we must not and will not be confused in our fight against Daesh with support for Assad.”

The Russian Defence Ministry announced earlier in the day that Russian fighter jets have targeted Daesh sites in Syria.