News / Russia

Ground operation in Syria means full-fledged war: Russia PM

Monday, 15 February 2016 1:09 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 15 February 2016 1:08 AM ]

A Syrian Kurdish sniper looks at the rubble in the Syrian city of Kobani (AP)

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says any manner of ground operations in Syria would result in a “full-fledged” war.

"Let me reiterate that no one is interested in a new war, and a ground operation is a full-fledged, long war," said Medvedev during an interview with the Euronews TV station aired on Sunday.

He also referred to remarks made by US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday that if Syria peace talks fail, more troops may be deployed.

"These are futile words; he should not have said that for a simple reason: if all he wants is a protracted war, he can carry out ground operations and anything else. But don't try to frighten anyone," said the Russian prime minster.

US President Barack Obama has so far ruled out the deployment of ground troops in the war-ravaged country, but Saudi Arabia and Turkey have hinted at launching joint military operations on Syrian soil.

Saudi Arabia has confirmed deployment of warplanes to the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, claiming that the move was in line with the so-called fight against Daesh.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has also said Ankara and Riyadh could launch a ground operation in Syria “if there is a strategy.”

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