Russia dismisses U.S. refusal to share intelligence in campaign in Syria

English.news.cn   2015-10-08 23:09:56

MOSCOW, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The reluctance of the United States to share intelligence on Syria will not hamper Russia's operations in the war-torn country as Moscow has sufficient information from other sources, a Russian official said Thursday.

"We get this information from sources in a number of other countries, coordinating it with our partners within the Baghdad Information Center," said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria have set up an information center in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad to share information about terrorist facilities in Syria.

Russia has been repeatedly accused by Western politicians and media of launching strikes against facilities irrelevant with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and causing civilian losses since it started operations in Syria on Sept. 30.

To prove that Russia was indeed striking IS targets, Moscow proposed to Washington and its allies involved in the U.S.-led coalition to share reconnaissance on Syria. Russia's proposal, however, was rejected, said Ryabkov.

He said the refusal to cooperate proved that Washington and its allies have their own goals in Syria, which had nothing to do with providing conditions for a national reconciliation there.

"I will risk saying that the United States and other countries involved in the coalition have put themselves in a politically ticklish situation where question arises as to which side they are fighting in this war," he said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday that the Russian air force has attacked a total of 112 targets, destroying 19 command posts, 12 ammunition depots, 71 armored vehicles as well as factories and workshops producing various explosives, including devices used in car bombs.

Russian warships based in the Caspian Sea joined the air campaign Wednesday, launching 26 cruise missiles from a distance of 1,500 km and destroying 11 terrorist targets in Syria, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.

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Editor: Tang Danlu
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Russia dismisses U.S. refusal to share intelligence in campaign in Syria

English.news.cn 2015-10-08 23:09:56

MOSCOW, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The reluctance of the United States to share intelligence on Syria will not hamper Russia's operations in the war-torn country as Moscow has sufficient information from other sources, a Russian official said Thursday.

"We get this information from sources in a number of other countries, coordinating it with our partners within the Baghdad Information Center," said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria have set up an information center in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad to share information about terrorist facilities in Syria.

Russia has been repeatedly accused by Western politicians and media of launching strikes against facilities irrelevant with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and causing civilian losses since it started operations in Syria on Sept. 30.

To prove that Russia was indeed striking IS targets, Moscow proposed to Washington and its allies involved in the U.S.-led coalition to share reconnaissance on Syria. Russia's proposal, however, was rejected, said Ryabkov.

He said the refusal to cooperate proved that Washington and its allies have their own goals in Syria, which had nothing to do with providing conditions for a national reconciliation there.

"I will risk saying that the United States and other countries involved in the coalition have put themselves in a politically ticklish situation where question arises as to which side they are fighting in this war," he said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday that the Russian air force has attacked a total of 112 targets, destroying 19 command posts, 12 ammunition depots, 71 armored vehicles as well as factories and workshops producing various explosives, including devices used in car bombs.

Russian warships based in the Caspian Sea joined the air campaign Wednesday, launching 26 cruise missiles from a distance of 1,500 km and destroying 11 terrorist targets in Syria, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.

Related:

Top U.S. officials warn of "gaps" in screening Syrian refugees

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Top officials of the Obama administration on Thursday cautioned that "gaps" remain in their ability to screen Syrian refugees whom the White House had pledged to accept.

"My concern is there are certain gaps ... in the data available to us," said James Comey, Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation, at a congressional hearing. Full story

Russia-backed Syria army on broad offensive against rebel-held areas

DAMASCUS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Syria's army chief of staff, Gen. Abdullah Ayoub, said Thursday that the military has unleashed a broad offensive against rebel-held areas across the country, buoyed by the Russian air support, according to the state news agency SANA.

"Today the Syrian armed forces have started a wide-scale offensive with the aim of eliminating the terrorists' positions and liberate the areas and towns that have suffered from terrorism and its woes and crimes," Ayoub said in a statement. Full story

China backs political solution to Syrian crisis: FM

BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China has always backed a political solution to the Syrian crisis, and called for a new Geneva conference on Syria, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday.

"We have noticed Russia said the military campaign is at the invitation of the Syrian government and aims to combat terrorism there," Hua said at a press briefing when asked if China backs Russia's air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Syria since Sept. 30. Full story

[Editor: huaxia]
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