You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Russia urges US to act in lockstep with Syria to crush ISIS
2015-06-03
[EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] Russia Tuesday urged a U.S.-led coalition fighting against ISIS to coordinate their air raids with the Syrian government, warning that jihadis could go "very far" if not stopped.

"It is absolutely clear to me it was a mistake - still is - not to coordinate the air strikes with the activities of the Syrian army. That's what we believe must be done," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Bloomberg Television in an interview.

"And that is what unfortunately our American colleagues cannot accept for ideological considerations."

Lavrov spoke as the Western coalition gathered for Gay Paree crunch talks involving Iraq to discuss the advance of ISIS jihadis who have declared an Islamic caliphate in large parts of Syria and Iraq they now control.

Moscow's top diplomat whose country is among the main backers of the Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Scourge of Qusayr...
, warned that the ISIS murderous Moslems could go "very far, very far" if not stopped.

"They already make a lot of progress in Iraq, in Syria. They just took the Idlib province," he said, noting that the murderous Moslems were expanding into Libya.

"And even in northern Afghanistan which is very close to Cental Asia which is next door to Russia."

Asked if ISIS could take over all of Syria, Lavrov declined to answer directly, adding however he was not optimistic about the future of the region if things remain as they are.

"If people continue to acquiesce with what is going on, and continue to acquiesce with those who categorically refuse to start the political process until Bashir al-Assad disappears then I am not very optimistic for the future of this region," he said.

"Because these people put the fate of one person whom they hate on top of the fight against terrorism," Lavrov said.

"We have been through this repeatedly. Saddam Hussein was the one person after whom the United States went and they ruined the country."

"Qadaffy is the same," he said, referring to Libya's fallen dictator.

Asked if Russia would support ground troops in the Middle East, Lavrov declined a direct response.

"Do you believe that the American troops are the only troops who can do the trick? They've been to Afghanistan, they've been to Iraq and look where Afghanistan and Iraq are now."
Posted by:Fred

#7  Thanks Snowy, I'll take a look.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2015-06-03 23:24  

#6  The one with the Israeli defense minister.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2015-06-03 20:48  

#5  I missed the news this weekend, but saw something today IIRC about Syria launching airstrikes for ISJV vs Jobhunt-Nusra?

And another story about Iraq and Iran sending troops to help Syria?

If true. Suppose that Iran and the ISJV had come to some sort of deal?
Posted by: swksvolFF   2015-06-03 20:37  

#4  swksvolIFF: did you see the piece from Saturday or Sunday about Assad and Iran using thel ISJV against everyone else?
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2015-06-03 20:00  

#3  Friend and I were discussing Syria last night. We are not Assad backers, but it occurred to us that Syria is the only one fighting ISJV - no disrespect to the Kurds it is they are fighting but underequipped. If Syria falls then all those ISJV units and experience can be deployed elsewhere. We were wondering if the Syrian redeployment of forces was a spring for counterattack, a trap, or last stand. That Russia is sending feelers for assistance or preparing the reasoning of a Syria collapse is ominous.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2015-06-03 12:56  

#2  Yeah, OK, we should absolutely take advice from our (now reset) friends the Russians.
Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp52169   2015-06-03 12:32  

#1  A) Are the Russians flying air support for Syria?
B) Which side of the red line would such activity fall?
Posted by: AlanC   2015-06-03 07:26  

00:00