Alwaght- At a regular presser, the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswomen Maria Zakharova said the US has occupied Syria’s south by deploying forces in that part of the country.
"The situation in the northeast of Syria, where the US side is still trying to flirt with separatist-minded Kurdish groups, is concerning, as well as in the south of the country near Al-Tanf, where there is a de facto undisguised occupation by US forces of the territory of the sovereign Syrian state," the Russian news agency Sputnik cited her as saying.
She continued that the US forces have established a 55-kilometer protected zone for the militants, adding that the extremist fighters extort $2,000 per person from the civilians who want to leave the area.
The US did not obtain the Syrian government’s permission or United Nations’ resolution when in 2014 dispatched forces to Syrian territories, along with Western allies.
Drone Attack, INF Treaty addressed
The spokeswomen discussed a set of other recent developments with the US, including the US-assisted militant drone strike on Russian airbase and Trump’s INF treaty withdrawal intention.
The Russian Ministry of Defense on Thursday said that an American surveillance aircraft assisted a drone attack on the Russian Khmeimim airbase in the Syrian coastal province of Latakia earlier this year.
“This information, provided by our military experts, is absolutely reliable. We have repeatedly voiced our concerns in this regard. And, certainly, during our contacts with American partners, including along the military and political line. Our concerns will once again be brought to their notice’, she told the journalists.
She also addressed the US intention to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces in Europe treaty, signed between the US and Soviet-era Russia in 1987. Zakharova said that Russia was calling on all nations to send an "unambiguous" signal to the US to preserve the agreement.
She defended the Russian programs for developing cruise missiles as fully complying with the accord between the two powers. She also expressed the Russian intention to continue work within the framework of the agreement, while Washington considers quitting it.
"The American side was never able to present any evidence to either Russia or the international community to substantiate its claims. They remain unfounded and are provocative. And we reiterate that Russia strictly abides by the provisions of the treaty," Sputnik added, quoting her.
Tensions between Russia and the US have been mounting recently over a set of issues, mainly Syria. Russia is an invited actor in the Syrian government’s fight against a host of terrorist groups. But the US illegally entered Syria. Damascus labels the uncalled-for American troops “occupying forces.”
