Syrian opposition says Washington calls to keep truce regime in place
DUBAI. May 24 (Interfax) - The United States urged the Syrian armed opposition not to withdraw from the agreement on the cessation of hostilities, because, otherwise, these groups will become the targets for the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian governmental troops, a representative of a Syrian opposition group told Interfax.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Michael Ratney issued a statement, in which he urged all of the Syrian opposition groups "on the ground" not to breach the ceasefire regime, because, otherwise, al-Assad and his allies would be able to deliver strikes on us without a sanction of the international community, he said.
The interlocutor confirmed that he referred to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's statement, saying that Russia might start unilaterally eliminating terrorists in Syria on May 25.
Interfax does not have official confirmation of this information voiced by the Syrian oppositionist.
The U.S. will be able to protect only those groups, which will observe the ceasefire regime and, in their view, the breach of the agreement will be a strategic mistake, the opposition representative also said.