Lavrov urges coordinating Russian, US military action in Syria

MOSCOW – 23 September 2017: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stressed a need for coordinated action by Russian and US military to deal a final blow to terrorists in Syria, Tass news agency reported Saturday.

"We have the so-called deconflicting, but this is probably not enough when fight against terrorism is in progress, when we destroy terrorist hotbeds in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor," he said.

"In order to deal a final blow to terrorists in fact, not just deconflicting is need, coordination is necessary."

Lavrov said Russia has informed the United States that any attempts to hamper the counterterrorism operation in Syria will not be left without reaction.

"We are delighted to meet, to make sure we are on the same page about the Syrian settlement, fight against terrorism, resumption of nationwide dialogue and to outline further steps with regard to all these issues," Lavrov said.

Moscow thinks it necessary the foreign troops staying illegitimately in Syria should pull out of the country after the victory over terrorism.