US concedes Russian 'constructive role' in Syria
The Pentagon has acknowledged Russia’s “constructive role” in the Syrian peace process, which might ultimately lead to a “resolution” of the years-long conflict.
“It's being clear that they have focused more of their military attention on ISIL. We think that is a good thing. We encourage that from the start,” Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said during a briefing on Tuesday.
“They're playing a constructive role with regard to the cessation of hostilities,” he added.
The Pentagon official said that no other player has more “leverage” than Russia to nudge the Syrian government toward a political transition.
“And we would hope that they would use that leverage in as constructive a fashion as possible. And we would encourage them to do so,” he noted.
Cook said the United States will continue with its military campaign against Daesh, “but at this point, we're not at a position to cooperate with Russia in that effort.”
In recent months, the Syrian army, backed by the Russian air power, has been making major gains against terrorist groups, recapturing several strategic areas from their grip, particularly in the strategic northern province of Aleppo.
In an interview with Russia's RIA Novosti news agency published on Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hailed Russian support and recent advances against the militants.
“Russia's military support, the support provided by Syria's friends and the military achievements of the Syrian army - all this will lead to the speeding up of political settlement, and not vice versa,” he said.
Moscow began a campaign of airstrikes against Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria on September 30 last year upon a request by the Syrian government.
The Pentagon for months had accused Russia of being disingenuous by saying it was targeting Daesh terrorists while it was actually bombing US-backed militants operating inside Syria.
A ceasefire agreement in Syria, brokered by Russia and the United States, entered into force on February 27. The Syrian government accepted the terms of the truce on condition that military efforts against Daesh and the al-Nusra Front terrorists, who are excluded from the ceasefire, continue.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. According to a February report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the crisis in the Arab country has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people and displaced nearly half of its pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.
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