Moscow says US unable to force Syria opposition to distance itself from Jabhat al-Nusra

Russian Politics & Diplomacy

 May 06, 13:39 UTC+3
Russia calls on all the forces that have influence on the armed groups in Syria to use this influence for the good and force their proteges to distance themselves from terrorists

Rebels from Jabhat al-Nusra

© AP Photo/Edlib News Network ENN, File

MOSCOW, May 6. /TASS/. Russia calls for struggling against all the extremist armed groups violating the ceasefire regime in Syria, Russia’s Foreign Ministry official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

The problem is that American partners have been unable to force the opposition groups they support to distance themselves from Jabhat al-Nusra, the diplomat said. "The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists are used by these organizations and their members for new bloody provocations."

"Moscow insists on the need of uncompromising fight against terrorists and those who together with them violate the ceasefire regime, in particular such odious extremist armed groups as Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaysh al-Islam," Zakharova told reporters.

Russia calls on all the international regional forces that have influence on the armed groups in Syria to use this influence for the good and force their so-called proteges to distance themselves from the terrorists of the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra. "It is necessary to maintain ceasefire in full," she stressed.

Syrian moderate opposition in terrorists’ ranks

According to Zakharova, groups near northeastern Syrian city Aleppo that call themselves moderate opposition are in the ranks of terrorists.

The diplomat told reporters that on May 1 and May 3 terrorists attacked the positions of the Syrian army and militias. "Simultaneously, the terrorists carried out a massive mortar shelling of Aleppo’s residential areas."

The areas of Syria’s Sheikh Maqsood, Maidan and Suria were targeted by Hellfire missile systems. These weapons are indiscriminate and aimed at killing and intimidating civilians, she said.

"These are the methods used by terrorists and those still called moderate opposition who are hiding or are among the ranks of terrorist organizations," Zakharova said.