Konflikten i Syrien

Russia alarmed by Jabhat al-Nusra’s refusal to leave Aleppo — Lavrov

Moscow does not see US-led coalition’s efforts to fight Jabhat al-Nusra, the Russian top diplomat says
MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Russia is alarmed by a refusal of Jabhat al-Nusra militants (terrorist organization banned in Russia - eds. TASS) to leave Aleppo, in spite of goodwill gestures of Moscow and Damascus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.

"In fact, we are deeply alarmed that despite goodwill gestures of Moscow and Damascus which are aimed at normalizing the situation around Aleppo, we see that Jabhat al-Nusra militants (terrorist organization banned in Russia - eds. TASS) are refusing to leave the city," Lavrov said. "By the way, they are not alone as the Ahrar al-Sham group, which our partners view as moderate, is solidary with al-Nusra."

"We handed over their lists to the US and regional countries when we met in Lausanne," he said. "According to our information, all these groups are, one way or another, subordinated to Jabhat al-Nusra, which runs the show in eastern Aleppo."”

“Washington’s statements that Jabhat al-Nusra is not the international coalition’s target have not become a revelation for Moscow, Lavrov stressed.

"As for Americans’ statements on how Jabhat al-Nusra is seen by the US-led coalition, the statements that al-Nusra is not its target have not become a revelation for us," he said.

"The international coalition is fighting the ISIS in a rather reserved manner," he said. "But, as for al-Nusra, we see no attempts to suppress this terrorist organization."”