Russian Defense Ministry warns US against missile, air strikes on Syrian troops

Any missile or air strikes on the territory under control of the Syrian government will pose an obvious threat to the Russian military, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told a briefing on Thursday in comments on western media reports about possible strikes on Syrian troops, the TASS reported.

"Most officers of the Russian Centre for Reconciliation of the Warring Parties currently work ‘on the ground,’ delivering humanitarian aid and conducting negotiations with heads of settlements and armed groups in most Syrian provinces," he reminded.

"That is why any missile or air strikes on the territory under control of the Syrian government, will create an obvious threat for Russian military. And finally, I draw attention of ‘hotheads’ that after a strike on Syrian troops in Deir ez-Sor by planes of the coalition on September 17, we have taken all necessary measures to rule out any such ‘mistakes’ against Russian military and military facilities in Syria," the spokesman said.

More than 60 military were wounded and about 100 were wounded as a result of an airstrike by the international coalition on Syrian government troops in Deir ez-Zor. Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the US had admitted that the attack was a result of mistakes and apologized to Syria through Russia.

Nevertheless, the incident called into question the implementation of Russian-US agreements on the Syrian settlement. On September 19, the Syrian army said it was withdrawing from the ceasefire regime.

Source: MENA