MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to Medvedev, the actions of the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition in Syria, as well as Turkish air strikes on targets in Iraq raise doubts about their legitimacy as they are carried out without the consent of the UN Security Council or national governments.
"I would like to emphasize that we consider any external intervention unacceptable. The Syrians must decide who should lead their country. Nobody has the right to do this for them," Medvedev said in an interview with Egyptian daily Al-Ahram ahead of his visit to Egypt.
Russia will continue to help the Syrian people deal with their social and economic problems, the minister added. "For us, it is important to stop the bloodshed as quickly as possible, to stabilize the country, considering how volatile this region already is."
"A political solution to the Syrian conflict is the only possible one. There are no alternatives. Otherwise, war and chaos will continue."
Since 2014, a US-led international coalition has been launching airstrikes against the group’s positions in Syria and Iraq. The military campaign in Syria is carried out without permission from Damascus. The coalition, believing Syrian President Bashar Assad to be illegitimate government, has also been training and supporting moderate opposition in Syria.
Previously, Turkey did actively participate in anti-ISIL coalition operations.
On July 24, Turkey started a military campaign against the ISIL in Syria following the deterioration of the situation after the militants claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in the border town of Suruc that killed 32 people.
Turkey is also carrying out airstrikes against the Kurdish militants in Iraq, after they claimed responsibility for murders of two Turkish policemen who they believed were supporters of the Islamic State.