French anti-ISIL airstrikes over Syria are a response to the establishment of a joint coordination center between Russia, Syria, Iran and Iraq, a Syrian member of the parliamentary foreign relations committee told Sputnik Arabic on Monday.
The four countries have set up a joint information center to coordinate the fight against the Islamic State (ISIL) extremist group over the weekend. French fighters carried out their first strikes on ISIL targets on Sunday.
"Chances are, France responds to the Russian government this way, especially after the signing of an anti-ISIL [Russia-Syria-Iraq-Iran] coordination center in Baghdad," Hussein Rageb observed.
The Syrian lawmaker condemned Paris’ expanded military role coming without coordinating its actions with Damascus as a "violation of international law," warning that there will be renewed extremist expansion unless there is an all-out war against Islamic State.
- "We are awaiting an apology from France for their activity and demand everyone recognize that Damascus should be a central force in the international fight against ISIL, the Nusra Front and others," Rageb stressed.
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted in response to the French airstrikes against IS positions that bypassing the Syrian government and UN Security Council raised concerns.
An international coalition led by the United States has been conducting airstrikes against IS positions without seeking approval or support from Damascus since the latter half of 2014.
(Sputnik)
28/9/15
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A group of French lawmakers has urged official Paris to pool efforts with Damascus in a united front against Islamic State...
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Lambert, who is also vice-president of the Franco-Syrian group in the Assembly, told Europe 1 by telephone from Syria that it would be "smart to stand together" with Assad’s regime. His comments come a day after French President Francois Hollande stressed that the future of Syria "cannot be with Bashar al-Assad," RFI reports.
This is a second trip of French parliamentarians to Syria with which official Paris froze diplomatic relations in 2012 because of the disagreement with the position of Syrian President Bashar Assad. "We came here to see with our own eyes and sum up the situation," Lambert said. He said that during the visit, which will end on September 30, the lawmakers have visited Damascus and Homs and also the region of Latakia.............http://tass.ru/en/world/824145