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France, major player in backing militants in Syria: Commentator

Monday, 17 October 2016 2:38 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 17 October 2016 2:40 PM ]

This file photo shows foreign-backed militants in Syria.

France may not be pursuing an active role in resolving the conflict in Syria but it has been a major player in supporting the foreign-backed militants in the war-torn country, says a political commentator.

“Along with the US and the UK and Turkey, France has been one of the major NATO powers that has been arming, giving political support and economic support to the “rebels” on the ground in Syria,” Navid Nasr told Press TV.

This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized France for not contributing enough to international efforts to settle the crisis in Syria, saying Paris has not properly responded to Russia’s calls for joint action on Syria.

Putin noted that France had backed down on its previous promises to cooperate with Russian forces in Syria.

The commentator also stated the French do not want any kind of resolution to the Syrian crisis which is not going to have a “favorable ending” for them and the NATO powers, adding that they only seek to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“So this is not like a situation where France has been kind of like aloof, lackadaisical bystander and they do not want to get involved, they have been involved, they have been neck-deep now for five and a half years,” he said.

Tensions have escalated between Paris and Moscow since Russia vetoed a French resolution at the United Nations Security Council which called for a halt to the bombing of the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Putin had accused France of deliberately pushing for the UN proposal to heap pressure on Russia as it knew that Moscow would veto the resolution. He said the move was aimed at "inflaming the situation and fanning hysteria around Russia”.

Under the air cover provided by Russia, Syria has stepped up attacks on militant-held parts of the northwestern city of Aleppo over the past two weeks. That has angered France and other western allies who claim that Russian fighter jets indiscriminately target the civilians in the city.

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