Russia says it may use force against Syria ceasefire violators
Moscow accuses US of dragging feet in coordinating monitoring of truce, which has helped reduce hostilities in civil war
Russia on Monday warned the United States that it would start responding to ceasefire violations in Syria unilaterally starting Tuesday if the US refuses to coordinate rules of engagement against the violators.
The Russian military has accused the US of dragging its feet on responding to Moscow’s proposals on joint monitoring of a Syria ceasefire. A top Russian general said over the weekend that further delays are leading to civilian casualties, like in Aleppo where 67 civilians reportedly have been killed by militant fire since the truce started.
Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi of the Russian General Staff said in a statement on Monday that Russia will have to use force unilaterally that because the US, in talks with Russia last week, had refused to coordinate a joint response.
“The American side was not ready for this particular discussion and for the approval of the agreement,” the statement quoted him as saying.
There was no immediate reaction from US officials.
The Russian- and US-brokered ceasefire that began on Feb. 27 has helped significantly reduce hostilities. The Islamic State group and the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front have been excluded from the truce.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week recalled some of Russian warplanes from Syria, but said the action against the Islamic State group and the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front would continue.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.