The Russian Defense Ministry has said it has obtained evidence the US-led coalition provides support for the terrorist group Islamic State.
“The operation to regain control of Abu Kamal held by the Syrian government troops late last week exposed instances of direct interaction with and support for Islamic State terrorists by the US-led international coalition,” the Defense Ministry said.
The US has refused to conduct airstrikes over an Islamic State terrorist convoy retreating from Syria’s Abu Kamal, according to the ministry.
“Americans peremptorily rejected to conduct airstrikes over the ISIS terrorists on the pretext of the fact that, according to their information, militants yield themselves prisoners to them and now are subject to the provisions of the Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The coalition’s planes entered the airspace over the 15-km zone around the city to hamper the Russian aircraft’ mission.
“The coalition’s aviation tried to create obstacles for the aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in this area to safely shield militants of the Islamic State, who are leaving Abu Kamal, from the strikes of government forces,” the ministry said.