The commander of the international operation against the Daesh terrorists should be concerned over the future deliveries of US-made portable air defense systems to Syrian militants rather than a few pieces of military equipment and small arms left by the Syrian army after retreating from Palmyra, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.
"The insignificant amount of small arms and a few pieces of damaged military equipment left in Palmyra by the Syrian army does not pose any threat to the international coalition," ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.
This statement was made in connection with the words of Operation Inherent Resolve Commanding General Stephen Townsend that the alleged weapons and "air defense systems," captured the Daesh militants in Palmyra "pose a threat to the coalition ".
"What should be real concern for Lt. Gen. [Steven] Townsend is the recent decision by the US Congress to allow the deliveries of US-made MANPADs to Syrian militants in 2017," Konashenkov said.
"It's not hard to imagine who will take hold of these weapons after the delivery," the spokesman stressed.
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