U.S.-led coalition lacks coordination with Damascus government - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, September 17 /TASS/. The U.S.-led anti-terror coalition in Syria lacks coordination with the government in Damascus, which is a violation of international law, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday. "All the actions of the so-called coalition have not be agreed with Damascus. This is a violation of international law," she stressed. "It is necessary to coordinate the efforts with Damascus, enlist its support and ask it for permission to carry out certain actions, especially combat operations, in the Syrian territory," the Russian diplomat said. "Over the past two years, the ‘westerners’ have harnessed the theme of struggle against ISIS /the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which is the IS former name/," Zakharova went on to say. "But the question is in what is the true intention. If fighting ISIS is the main goal, then what is preventing the coalition from simply joining efforts with Damascus and all the forces that are also fighting against ISIS. But if the struggle is not against ISIS, then questions really arise," the Russian diplomat stressed. Read more