Lavrentiev: Russia categorically rejects the Israeli attacks on Syrian territory

Special Representative of the Russian President to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev has affirmed that Russia categorically rejects the Israeli attacks on the Syrian territory, indicating that this may lead to the expansion of the conflict in the Middle East.

 “We categorically do not accept these attacks because they only lead to an escalation of violence.  We will do everything to prevent attempts to involve Syria in a regional conflict,” Lavrentiev said in a statement to reporters on Wednesday in Astana

The Russian representative  added: “Russia has not yet seen an intention by the United States to withdraw its military forces from Syria, and the situation has become more complicated, as the Americans are suffering massive losses, but they continue to remain there in a number of their bases in northeastern Syria and in the Al-Tanf region in the south.”

He pointed to the importance of the Astana format to resolve the situation in Syria is now increasing in the light of the escalation of tension in the Middle East, which is now on the verge of a large-scale armed confrontation.

 “I believe that the international community must do everything in its power to prevent such a negative development  of the situation,” Lavrentiev added

The three guarantor countries including Russia, Iran, and Turkey, according to the Russian diplomat , will need to coordinate their stances  in interaction with all parties participating in the Astana negotiations, first and foremost, of course, with the Syrian parties.

Lavrentiev stressed the need to continue fighting terrorist groups, such as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and others, and seek to improve the economic situation in Syria .

Today, the  21st international meeting on Syria kicked off in the Kazakh capital, Astana, under the Astana format.

Rawaa Ghanam