Friday, September 18, 2015

Russia Ready to Consider Syria's Request for Military Action Against ISIL

Mi-24 helicopters

© Sputnik/ Alexei Danichev

An international US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against ISIL positions in Syria without Damascus' consent.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia’s military participation in operations in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria could be discussed in a bilateral format should such a request surface, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
“If there’s a request, then it would naturally be discussed and reviewed in the framework of bilateral contacts and bilateral dialogue. This is so far difficult to discuss hypothetically,” Peskov told journalists.
Syrian Foreign Minister said Thursday that Damascus may ask Moscow to send troops to fight alongside the government forces against terrorist groups in the war-torn country if necessary. Moreover, Syria's envoy to the United Nations said earlier that Russia had every right to carry out airstrikes against ISIL on the country's soil.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with the government of President Bashar Assad fighting against many opposition factions and militant groups, such as ISIL and the Nusra Front.

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