US Embassy in Moscow Uninformed of Russia's Demand to Clear Syrian Airspace

US Embassy spokesman Will Stevens said that he has no information about Russian demand to clear Syrian airspace of its military aircraft.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The US Embassy in Moscow is uninformed that Russia has allegedly demanded that Washington clear Syrian airspace of its military aircraft, US Embassy spokesman Will Stevens said Wednesday.

Fox News reported earlier in the day, citing a senior US official, that Russia had requested the United States to clear its airplanes from Syrian airspace immediately.

“I don't have anything on that topic,” Stevens said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Russia’s upper house of parliament unanimously approved the use of Russian Air Force in Syria at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad. According to the Kremlin, Moscow's aim is to support the legitimate Syrian government in its efforts to tackle terrorism.

A US-led international coalition has been conducting airstrikes against Islamic State militant positions in Syria since 2014, without approval from Damascus or the UN Security Council.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stressed that Russia is the only country to be carrying out a military operation in Syria lawfully, as it was asked to do so by President Bashar Assad.