Claims that Russia carries out airstrikes against the opposition and civilians in Syria instead of Islamic State militants are a myth, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
#Zakharova: Some foreign media present a distorted view of the goals of #Russia’s actions in #Syria
— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) 8 октября 2015
"A widespread myth is that [...] Russian airstrikes are targeted against civilians and the moderate opposition instead of the Islamic State," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said in a briefing. "I want to reiterate that the [Russian] Defense Ministry provides all the information about the military operation and the targets being destroyed", she added.
#Zakharova: #Russia’s Aerospace Forces in #Syria are fighting exclusively #ISIS and other terrorist groups @mod_russia
— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) 8 октября 2015
"The Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria are only carrying out airstrikes against the representatives of international terrorism and their henchmen. Those who are not terrorists and do not coordinate their moves with terrorist organizations have nothing to fear", Zakharova stressed.
"Another myth which persists despite all our efforts is that Russia is deliberating a ground operation in Syria", she went on to say.
#Zakharova: It’s not what the terrorists call themselves that matters. #ISIS comprises several groups with extremist ideologies.
— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) 8 октября 2015
"Yet another myth which is being actively circulated is that Russia's military operation [...] is guided exclusively by its own interests; that it refuses to cooperate and share information, that it acts unilaterally", Zakharova added.
#Zakharova: All #Russia’s actions in #Syria are aimed at assisting a political settlement.
— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) 8 октября 2015
"All of Russia's efforts in Syria pursue a single objective: to help achieve political settlement in the country. Absent that, it will be impossible to restore unity and sovereignty on its whole territory [of the country], to ensure stability and peaceful coexistence of all its ethnic and religious groups," the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman emphasized.
Since September 30 Russia has been carrying airstrikes on the Islamic State facilities in Syria following a request by the country's internationally recognized government.
