Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Syria conflict: Russia defends air strikes

by Maria Ogryzlo and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Moscow

12 minutes ago


Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has defended his country's air strikes in Syria, saying they were targeting the same "terrorist" groups as the US-led coalition.
He rejected suggestions that Russian action was to bolster Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
He also said Russia did not consider the opposition Free Syrian Army as a terrorist group.
Russian jets carried out a second day of air strikes in Syria on Thursday.
The Kremlin says it is acting on the request of the Syrian government to help combat Islamic State (IS) militants - which has seized parts of Syria and Iraq - and other designated terrorist groups.
But the US and its allies fear the strikes have mainly targeted opponents of Russia's ally, Mr Assad.
Mr Lavrov, speaking at the UN in New York, said Russia would fight IS and other terrorist groups, including the al-Nusra Front.
He said this position was the same as the US-led coalition which has been carrying out air strikes in Iraq and Syria for several months.
 
More Videos from the BBC
  • Syria air strikes: Russian fighter jets bomb targets
  • Woman given life term for child sex abuse
  • 'Zuck, Wash Your Hands' - and other reactions to Modi at Facebook
  • Afghanistan city of Kunduz capture shows Taliban strength
  • Video 3:50

    Sacre bleu!

    Rude awakening for Canada's French-speaking immigrants

    Crime and punishment

    The murder plotters put on death row while killers live

    Run or hide?

    What residents did after the Taliban seized Kunduz

    Last portrait

    Who was Andy Warhol painting when he painted Barbie?

    Clean living

    Can China fix safety in its food industry?

    Fight club

    The wrestling group for disabled people in Japan
    Video 1:01

    Five decades of style

    A look back at the fashions of Ralph Lauren

    London from above

    The city as you've never seen it before

    No comments:

    Post a Comment