01 October 2015 | 09:35

Kerry: US not against Russian strikes, but Assad must go

viewings icon comments icon

ПОДЕЛИТЬСЯ

whatsapp button telegram button facebook button

The United States does not oppose Russian air strikes in Syria if they target the Islamic State group, but Bashar al-Assad must step down, Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday, AFP reports.

whatsapp button telegram button facebook button copyLink button
Иконка комментария блок соц сети

The United States does not oppose Russian air strikes in Syria if they target the Islamic State group, but Bashar al-Assad must step down, Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday, AFP reports.

Kerry was addressing the United Nations Security Council hours after Russian jets hit targets in Syria, apparently in support of Assad's battle against rebel groups threatening his hold on power.

"If Russia's recent actions and those now ongoing reflect a genuine commitment to defeat that organization then we are prepared to welcome those efforts," Kerry said.

US forces, he added, are ready to "de-conflict" with Russian forces -- communicate to avoid accidental encounters on the battlefield -- "thereby increasing the military pressure on ISIL."

"But we must not and will not be confused in our fight against ISIL with support for Assad," he insisted. 

"Moreover we have also made clear that we would also have grave concerns should Russia strike areas where ISIL and Al-Qaeda affiliated targets are not operating," he said.

"Strikes of that kind would question Russia's real intentions in fighting ISIL or protecting the Assad regime," he warned.

Early reports of Russia's strikes on Wednesday suggested they hit areas where other opposition groups, seen by the United States and its allies as moderates, have been fighting Assad's forces.

"We have informed Russia that we are prepared to hold these de-confliction talks as early as possible: this week," Kerry said.

"But let me be clear, the United States and the coalition will continue our ongoing air operations as we have from the very beginning," he said, referring to the year-old US-led campaign.

"We have conducted a number of strikes against ISIL targets in Syria over the past 24 hours including just an hour ago, and these strikes will continue."

Читайте также
Join Telegram Последние новости
The Moon is calling: New lunar mission
Wolf attacked man in Atyrau region
Euronews office opened in Astana
Earthquake recorded in Zhambyl region
Tokayev sent telegram to Qatar’s Emir
A New Year gift guide for her
Tokayev expressed condolences to Macron
Bitcoin exchange rate hit a new record
EU expanded sanctions against Belarus
Kazhydromet warned residents of Almaty
Лого TengriNews мобильная Лого TengriSport мобильная Лого TengriLife мобильная Лого TengriAuto мобильная Иконка меню мобильная
Иконка закрытия мобильного меню
Открыть TengriNews Открыть TengriLife Открыть TengriSport Открыть TengriTravel Открыть TengriGuide Открыть TengriEdu Открыть TengriAuto

Exchange Rates

 523.95  course up  543.16  course up  5.1  course up

 

Weather

 

Редакция Advertising
Социальные сети
Иконка Instagram footer Иконка Telegram footer Иконка Vkontakte footer Иконка Facebook footer Иконка Twitter footer Иконка Youtube footer Иконка TikTok footer Иконка WhatsApp footer