US warns Russia over ‘imminent enhanced military buildup’ in Syria

US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday that the United States is deeply concerned by reports of "Russian military buildup" in Syria.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Russian counterpart that Washington is deeply concerned of reports of "an imminent enhanced Russian military buildup" in Syria.

Kerry raised the issue during a phone call to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday, according to the US State Department.

"The secretary made clear that if such reports were accurate, these actions could further escalate the conflict, lead to greater loss of innocent life, increase refugee flows and risk confrontation with the anti-ISIL coalition operating in Syria," the State Department said.

According to the State Department, Kerry discussed with Lavrov "US concerns about reports suggesting an imminent enhanced Russian buildup there."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

"The two agreed that discussions on the Syrian conflict would continue in New York later this month," it added.

Russia has dispatched a military advance team to Syria and is taking other steps to expand its military support for the government of President Bashar al-Assad, the New York Times has reported.

According to US intelligence analysts, Russia has also sent prefabricated housing units for hundreds of people to a Syrian airfield as well a portable air traffic station, the Times report said.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to reports, the United States and its regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside the country.

According to the United Nations, more than 230,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the turmoil that has gripped Syria for over four years.

The Daesh terrorists, who were initially trained by the CIA in Jordan in 2012 to destabilize the Syrian government, now control large parts of Iraq and Syria.

Since late September 2014, the US and some of its Arab allies have been carrying out airstrikes against ISIL inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.

Syrian citizens checking a damaged house that was targeted by the US-led coalition airstrikes in the village of Kfar Derian. (file photo)

Some analysts have criticized the aerial military campaign in Syria, saying the strikes are meant to destroy the Arab country's infrastructure.

Alan Sabrosky, a US Marine Corps veteran, has said that the United States’ airstrikes in Syria often target militants with “no military value” and actually aim at the country’s infrastructure.


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku