MOSCOW, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The new U.S. strike on Syrian government forces by the U.S.-led coalition undermines anti-terrorism efforts in the region, TASS cited a Russian official as saying Friday.
"The new U.S. strike on government troops in Syria is a continuation of Washington's non-constructive policy," said Leonid Slutsky, the head of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament.
He said that the unilateral action undoubtedly hinders the negotiation process on a Syrian settlement and undermines anti-terrorism cooperation and coordination.
Russia supports the cease-fire in Syria while the United States weakens the effort fighting against terrorist groups, he added.
Earlier it was reported that the U.S.-led coalition attacked a Syrian government convoy Thursday. The strike took place within a de-escalation zone, where all military activity is banned under a deal, which was brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey during the May 3-4 negotiations in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
