Russia urges global support for Syria in fight against Daesh

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow will continue arming the Syrian government in its fight against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists, urging other countries to take a similar measure and help Damascus in the battle.

Talking to reporters in the Russian capital on Friday, Lavrov urged members of the so-called international coalition against Daesh in Iraq and Syria to cooperate with the Syrian armed forces.

“It is necessary, of course, to interact with the ground forces and the most efficient and powerful ground force fighting the Islamic State (Daesh) is the Syrian army. But coordination is needed to prevent various incidents as well,” the Russian foreign minister said.

Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s previous stances on the need to provide weapons and military equipment to Syria, saying the Russian military will continue to deploy personnel in the Arab country to train the Syrian forces.

“I can say yet again that our military personnel is there to service Russian equipment, to help the Syrian army use this equipment,” Lavrov said, adding, "And we will continue to deliver this equipment to the Syrian government to ensure it has the needed defense capabilities to confront the terrorist threat."

Lavrov’s call on Western powers to cooperate with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad comes as the United States and its allies in NATO have repeatedly labeled Assad as the cause of the conflict in Syria. They have also raised concern about Russia’s alleged military buildup in Syria although Moscow dismisses the allegation.

Lavrov said Thursday that there is nothing secret about the presence of the Russian forces in Syria, where Moscow also runs a military base west of the country.

“There are Russian military personnel in Syria; they have been there for several years,” said Lavrov.

The US has actively sought the ouster of Assad by supporting the militants operating in Syria since a conflict broke out there in March 2011.

Moscow and Washington have also been at odds over an armed conflict in Ukraine, where they support the opposing sides of a bloody battle in the east of the country.

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