Russian FM Slams Unauthorized US Raids in Syria

(FNA)- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov slammed Washington’s unauthorized airstrikes in Syrian territory as a breach of international law, saying the US follows a dual policy in the battle against the ISIL Takfiri terror group.

Lavrov stated in a Friday interview with Rossiya 24 TV channel that he questioned his US counterpart John Kerry at a recent meeting at the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi on why Washington conducts airstrikes on the ISIL positions in Iraqi territory with the consent of Baghdad, but carries out similar operations in Syria without seeking authorization from the Damascus government in “flagrant violation of international law.”

“I asked US Secretary (of State) John Kerry the reason why (the US) didn’t take the legal way – to receive a mandate for the coalition to get the approval of the Syrian and Iraqi government forces in their fight against the ISIL - in the situation where the Syrian government is the objective ally in the fight against (the so-called) Islamic State,” said Lavrov.

“The answer was very interesting. I was told, "You know, we don’t consider the Syrian government as a legitimate partner,” he added.

Describing Washington’s refusal to cooperate with the Syrian government as “short-sighted,” Lavrov then noted that in 2014 the US considered the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as legitimate during its cooperation in the successful destruction of the country’s chemical stockpile.

“Such double standards have been always characteristic for Americans,” Lavrov further emphasized.