The Russian military is warning the United States against striking Syrian government forces, saying it’s ready to use its air defense weapons to protect them.
(NewYorkTimes)- Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov warned Thursday that the Russian military won’t have time to contact its U.S. counterparts if they see missiles on way to target —indicating it would strike back without warning should Syrian forces be attacked.
Konashenkov voiced concern about media reports alleging that Washington is considering strikes on Syrian troops. He said that strikes on government-controlled areas could threaten Russian forces there.
A U.S-led coalition airstrike killed over 60 Syrian government soldiers last month. The U.S. said the strike was unintentional and had been targeting the Islamic State group, but Moscow questions this account.
Syrian opposition activists and international relief agencies have said Syrian and Russian warplanes have been hitting hospitals and infrastructure in the northern city of Aleppo, which has been the epicenter of the Syrian civil war in recent months.
Assad told Denmark’s TV2 station that “to say that this is our aim as a government, (that) we give the orders to destroy hospitals or schools or to kill civilians, this is against our interest.”
(Photo Credit: AP via TheHindu.com)