U.S. failed to fully clear Euphrates' eastern bank from terrorists - Russian Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. April 22 (Interfax) - The United States has not concluded clearing the eastern bank of the Euphrates River from militants, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said.
"The eastern bank of the Euphrates River is a region, which is not quite calm yet. The U.S. claims that it had decimated ISIL [banned in Russia] are not entirely true. The vestiges of certain armed gangs and the infrastructure remain, as confirmed by militants' regular attacks," Fomin said in an interview with the RT TV channel.
Support to terrorists prevents this area from being purged, he said.
"We believe they simply need to stop supporting terrorists and simply give the Syrian government forces an opportunity to conclude the operation to purge their territory from all armed gangs," Fomin said.
The threat of terrorists' return to the region remains until this is done, he said.