Russia's Top Diplomat Says Dividing Syria Is A Serious Threat

 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the UN Human Rights Council on February 28, 2018 in Geneva (Fabrice Coffrini, AFP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the UN Human Rights Council on February 28, 2018 in Geneva (Fabrice Coffrini, AFP)
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Russia's Top Diplomat Says Dividing Syria Is A Serious Threat

 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the UN Human Rights Council on February 28, 2018 in Geneva (Fabrice Coffrini, AFP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the UN Human Rights Council on February 28, 2018 in Geneva (Fabrice Coffrini, AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Wednesday of the consequences of dividing Syria if Washington continues to encourage separatism in the war-torn country.

Speaking at a special session of the Valdai International Discussion Club’s Middle East Conference, Lavrov said the frozen state of the Syrian conflict is fraught with a breakup of the country, stressing that Russia is exerting efforts to avert this issue.

"It is fraught with a collapse of the country, which would be particularly tragic not just because of the Kurdish factor that will immediately acquire regional dimension. There could be unpredictable consequences," said Lavrov.

"We are making every effort to avoid it, but it does look like a frozen conflict," he said when asked about the state of the conflict in Syria.

Lavrov also strongly lashed out at the US, accusing Washington of exploiting Syria’s resources and using ISIS terror group to hinder settlement in the country.

"ISIS was actively used and continues to be used by the US to hinder the processes that will lead to a settlement in Syria with the full participation of the current government,” the FM said.

He accused the US of exploiting the hydrocarbons and grain that is produced in Syria.

“They make business to pay for the separatist actions of some Kurdish organizations to block dialogue between Kurds and Damascus.”

The Russian top diplomat reiterated the need to resolve the Syrian crisis by implementing the UNSC Resolution 2254.



US Military Strikes Iranian-Backed Militia Targets in Syria

The US has about 900 personnel in Syria to assist partnered forces in conducting missions against ISIS militants. (Reuters file)
The US has about 900 personnel in Syria to assist partnered forces in conducting missions against ISIS militants. (Reuters file)
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US Military Strikes Iranian-Backed Militia Targets in Syria

The US has about 900 personnel in Syria to assist partnered forces in conducting missions against ISIS militants. (Reuters file)
The US has about 900 personnel in Syria to assist partnered forces in conducting missions against ISIS militants. (Reuters file)

The US struck nine targets at two locations in Syria Monday to hit Iranian-aligned militias that had launched attacks on US personnel over the last 24 hours, US Central Command said.

No US personnel were injured in the attacks, but as of late Monday the Pentagon did not provide further details on what US sites in Syria had been attacked or what sites the US struck in return.

The US has about 900 personnel in Syria to assist partnered forces in conducting missions against ISIS militants. In February it launched a massive attack on Iranian-backed militia sites in Syria in response to a drone attack in Jordan that killed three US service members.

Since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in Israel, and Israel's large-scale response in Gaza, Iran-backed fighters who are loosely allied with Hamas have carried out drone and rocket attacks on bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria.