Moscow:”Ahrar al-Sham” Terrorists in no Way Different from So-called “Islamic State”

MOSCOW- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said that there is no difference at all between the terrorist organization called “Islamic State” and the so-called “moderate opposition” group Ahrar al-Sham: both consist of the same type of terrorists, according to Itar Tass.

 “Some mass media have published footage of shocking scenes filmed at the sites of clashes between the Islamic State and the so-called moderates confronting it,” Zakharova said. “Those who saw that footage can make conclusions as to what the ‘moderate’ opposition is really like. Yet we’ve been warned and asked to believe for so long they are ‘moderate’.”

Zakharova said she was mostly referring to “Ahrar al-Sham” militants.

“One could see pictures of smiling militants from that organization who were showing the just chopped-off heads of other militants from the Islamic State,” she said. “Apparently they are worth each other. Islamic State militants and the so-called moderates are in no way different from each other in reality. The moderates are real thugs, too.”

Moscow accuses Turkey of patronizing extremists violating Syria truce

Zakharova  also said that extremist groupings patronized by Turkey are the main forces breaching the truce in Syria.

“Russia was one of the initiators of the truce and Russia objectively cannot be interested in the disruption of its own efforts,” the spokeswoman said.

“The extremist groupings are the main violators of the truce and it is well known that the Turkish authorities are behind them,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

“If not for Turkey’s criminal interference in the affairs of the neighboring country, the peace settlement would have been achieved much faster,” the spokeswoman said.

“These are not just words and proofs lie on the surface. For example, the Turkish journalists covering arms deliveries to Syria were taken into custody,” she said.

Moscow hopes that new anti-Russian information attacks won’t distract the international community from Turkey’s unconstructive role in Syrian affairs, she said.

Some forces try to protect Jabhat al-Nusra from defeat

According to the diplomat, certain forces have been trying to protect the terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra from defeat.

“We are being accused of civilian casualties,” she said. “The main purpose is to try to protect Jabhat al-Nusra from defeat. They keep guiding anti-government forces, hiding behind the backs of other groups and using them as a human shield. They don’t stop at using Syrian civilians for that.”

Zakharova pointed to the fact that in Aleppo province terrorists operate under the cover of the coalition “Jaysh al-Moujahideen” they lead and that Jabhat al-Nusra militants have resumed intensive bombardments of the Sheikh Maqsood district in Aleppo.\

“This vicious link should be broken as soon as possible,” Zakharova said. “We are urging wider international cooperation in the struggle with terrorists in Syria, including Jabhat al-Nusra. There is no more time or opportunity to describe militants as moderate opposition,” Zakharova said.

Moscow calls to expand cooperation between Russian, US militaries in Syria

Concernig US-Russian cooperation, Zakharova said the Russian and US militaries are coordinating their actions in Syria but this work should proceed more effectively.

“This [the proposal to coordinate the efforts of the Russian and US militaries] was our initiative and we considered it extremely important to start coordination with the United States,” Zakharova clarified.

Our position is absolutely clear and explicit. Precisely coordinated efforts by the militaries can lead to the relevant results,” she said.

“At first, the United States didn’t respond but then it grew aware of the need for coordination due ‘to the situation on the ground’ and now the militaries are maintaining contacts,” the Russian diplomat said.

According to Zakharova, Washington sometimes “self-denies joint work.”

“This doesn’t come out quite comme il faut: while dissuading others from interaction with Russia, they themselves are coordinating efforts with Russia,” the spokeswoman said.

“But, apparently, the interests of the peaceful settlement have become more important than the sanctions interests,” Zakharova said.

“Coordination is proceeding and we believe that this work can be broader and more effective for the process of the peaceful settlement,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

Source: Itar Tass

H.M