Russia: US force deployment violates Syria’s sovereignty

The deployment of US special forces to Syria without coordination with Damascus violates Syria’s sovereignty, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. (File photo: AP)

Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Friday, 29 April 2016

Russia dubbed US plans to increase number of military personnel in Syria as illegal and violating the conflict-torn country’s sovereignty, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

“It is impossible for us to be not worried that such an action by the United States of America is being carried out without the agreement of the legal government of Syria,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

“It is a violation of sovereignty,” the state news agency Tass reported him as saying.

Ryabkov’s statement comes after US President Barack Obama said Washington would increase number of special operations forces in Syria from 50 to 300. They would work to advise and assist local forces fighting ISIS, he said.

Russia has gave Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces aerial backing since September.

Meanwhile, the United States and Russia have agreed on a “freeze” in fighting along two major fronts in Syria, but not in war-ravaged Aleppo, the Syrian and Russian militaries said Friday.

In a statement carried on state television, Syria’s armed forces said the freeze would begin at 1:00 am on Saturday (2200 GMT Friday).