Russian Operation in Syria 'in Line With International Law'

The Russian military operation against militants from the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria complies with international law and demonstrates Moscow's expending role in world affairs, Spanish member of the European Parliament Javier Couso Permuy told Sputnik on Monday.

MADRID (Sputnik) — Russia has been conducting precision airstrikes against ISIL positions in Syria at the request of President Bashar Assad since September 30.

According to the vice-chair of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Russia "is acting in accordance with international law" in Syria, "instilling order in a geopolitical area where there was an absolute chaos."

The Spanish politician noted that "Russia returns to the chess board," and that recent developments in South Ossetia and Crimea illustrate a growing Russian presence on the global stage.

He added that further developments are not predictable since "the geopolitical reality is very complicated, you cannot know what the next move is going to be."

However, Couso states that he believes the United States accepts Russia as an important actor and that Washington recognizes that it must compromise with Moscow on some issues.

Russia recognized South Ossetia and another breakaway Georgian province, Abkhazia, as independent states in August 2008, following a five-day war with Georgia triggered by Tbilisi's military action against the republic.

Crimea rejoined Russia in March 2014, after 96 percent of the peninsula’s population voted in favor of a reunification deal.