Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has denounced as “illegitimate” the military presence of American troops in Syria, stressing that the US continues to violate the main resolutions of the UN Security Council on the war-torn Arab country despite a troop withdrawal announcement. RNA - Lavrov made the remark in an interview with Russia's Sputnik news agency on Monday as he was commenting on a recent announcement by US President Donald Trump on the future of American armed forces in Syria.
“The solution to the illegitimate and armed presence of the US in Syria might be difficult,” Russian foreign minister said.
“Washington continually puts new conditions that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria despite of [the fact] that these principles are mentioned by the main resolutions of the Security Council,” Lavrov said, adding, “Let’s see what the result of leaving Syria, which was announced by US President Donald Trump will be."
Last week, Trump declared victory against Daesh in Syria and announced to pull out American troops from the country, saying that US troops cannot stay in Syria "forever.”
The decision sparked bipartisan backlash in Washington, with US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announcing that he would step down at the end of February.
Trump's announcement also raised concerns among Washington's European and regional allies, which have long been supporting a myriad of anti-Damascus militants.
Analysts have described US forces' withdrawal from Syria as a victory for Damascus and its allies, which was made possible through resistance of the Syrian nation and government during the foreign-sponsored militancy in the Arab country.
France, a leading member of the US-led coalition, purportedly fighting Daesh in Syria, has said that it will keep troops in Syria. Turkey, which has opposed American support for the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), viewed by Ankara as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has also stressed that it will take over the fight against Daesh in the Arab country.
The US and its allies have been bombarding what they call Daesh positions inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.
The strikes have on many occasions resulted in civilian casualties and failed to fulfill their declared aim of countering terrorism.
Syria has on several occasions written to the UN, complaining that the US was flagrantly violating its sovereignty. The US supports militants fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad and has repeatedly attacked Syrian army positions.
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