In light of allegations that Russian airstrikes in Syria have been targeting U.S.-backed forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted on Thursday that the strikes "do not go beyond ISIL (ISIS), al Nusra or other terrorist groups recognized by the United Nations Security Council or Russian law," according to CNN.
The Foreign Minister further stated that the Russian efforts are completely eye-to-eye with the U.S.-backed coalition forces' campaigns against the terrorist group. However, fears remain that Russia, which has backed the family of Syrian President Bashar Assad, is using the opportunity to get rid of American-backed rebel groups.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has also alleged that Russian warplanes have targeted the Tajamu Alezzah, a U.S.-backed rebel group, as well as other areas related to the group's activities. Alleged civilian casualties have also been reported, reports The San Francisco Gate.
However, the validity of the reports have not been confirmed as of writing.
With Russia's statement that their airstrikes are targeting ISIL and other terrorist groups, questions arose regarding who the country considers as the other terrorist groups in the area. When pushed to define the other groups, Foreign Minister Lavrov was very direct.
"If it looks like a terrorist, if it acts like a terrorist, if it walks like a terrorist, if it fights like a terrorist, it's a terrorist, right?" he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far shrugged off the allegations, especially the reports that civilians have been harmed in the Russian airstrikes.
"We are ready for such information attacks. The first reports of civilian casualties came even before our jets took off," he remarked.
