Russia Gives France Information on Turkey's Role in Financing Daesh

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia's General Staff has provided information to France on Turkey's role in stealing Syrian natural resources and financing the Islamic State (IS, also known as Daesh), the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.

"General of the Army Valery Gerasimov presented information on continued stealing of Syrian national resources, the proceeds from which are used to finance IS, as well as on Turkey's role in this process," the ministry said in a statement.

Moscow has stated that Ankara is the main procurer of illegal oil from Syria and Iraq, accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family of direct involvement in the oil business of the terrorist group, outlawed in Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry previously unveiled satellite images showing the Islamic State transporting up to 200,000 barrels of oil in over 1,700 trucks to different countries, most notably Turkey.

The head of the Russian General Staff has also agreed with France to set up an exchange of operative information to coordinate actions in the fight against the Daesh, also known as ISIL/The Islamic State and prohibited in a range of countries including Russia, operating in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service announced Thursday.

“It has been agreed to establish an exchange of operative information to coordinate the actions for a more effective destruction of command points, military equipment, [arms] depots, paths for equipping militants, and other IS infrastructures in Syria,” the press service said in a statement.

According to Russian Defense Ministry’s press service, the head of the Russian General Staff has agreed with France to set up an exchange of operative information to coordinate actions in the fight against the Daesh.