Russia accuses West of propping up ISIL to topple Syria government
The Russian deputy defense minister has accused the West of propping up the ISIL terrorist group in collaboration with its regional allies in a bid to overthrow the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"[The ISIL] was created with financial and military assistance from Western countries and their allies to eliminate the Bashar al-Assad government," said Anatoly Antonov in a Tuesday press briefing in St. Petersburg following a summit of defense ministers from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
"We are particularly concerned about the formation of the terrorist quasi-state entity [ISIL] in Iraq and Syria,” Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.
He further pointed to the recent terrorist attacks in France and Denmark by the Takfiri terrorists, saying the foreign-backed ISIL militants will take their battle experience in Syria back home when they return to their native countries.
"Now terrorists and extremists got out of control and are promoting their own interests," noted the senior Russian official, insisting that SCO member states are also “directly” influenced by the emerging threat.
"It is no secret that thousands of extremists, including from the SCO member states, gain experience in the Middle East,” he said.
Antonov’s comments came a few days after Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Kremlin’s political, economic, and military support for the Syrian government and urged all Middle Eastern nations to join the battle against the Takfiri terrorist group.
Putin made the remarks during a visit by senior Syrian officials led by the country’s Foreign Minister Walid Moallem to Moscow. He further called on “all nations” to pool their efforts together to fight the ISIL militants regardless of their relations with Syria.
The notorious Takfiri terror group, which currently controls parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq, has carried out atrocities such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all ethnic and religious groups, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Izadi Kurds, and others.
More than 220,000 people have died in Syria since the foreign-sponsored plot to topple the Damascus government began in 2011.
MFB/MHB/AS
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