20 Jan 2018 19:18

U.S. irresponsible actions in Syria risk derailing peace process in which Kurds also should be full rightful participant - Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Turkey has begun a military operation in northwestern Syria after the United States took the provocative step of separating Kurdish-populated areas and Pentagon's uncontrolled weapon supplies to pro-American forces, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

"Pentagon's uncontrolled supplies of modern weapon to pro-American forces in northern Syria, including, according to data available, of portable surface-to-air missile system, sped up the escalation of regional tensions and led to the Turkish troops launching a special operation," the ministry said.

"Ankara's extremely negative reaction was prompted by Washington's announcement of the creation of border forces in areas bordering Turkey, and other U.S. efforts to break the Syrian statehood and support armed militant groups," the ministry said.

"The U.S. provocative steps aimed at separating the areas with a predominantly Kurdish population" were the main factors leading to the crisis in northwestern Syria, the ministry said.

"Such irresponsible U.S. actions in Syria will derail the peace process and are hampering Geneva-based intra-Syrian talks in which the Kurds, too, must be rightful participants," the ministry said.