MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, US Department of State deputy spokesman Mark Toner said that the United States supported Syria's opposition, but refused to say whether Washington supplied the opposition groups with arms.
"I think that it will be a completely counterproductive approach," Bogdanov said in an interview with RT television commenting on reports that Washington may consider supplying the Syrian opposition with modern weaponry, including air defense systems.
He added that the move could become very dangerous because it would pose threat to both Russian and US aircraft in future.
"It is very dangerous, because today they will down Syrian and our aircraft and tomorrow they will down the US ones," the Russian diplomat said.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups. The United States has been supporting the so-called "moderate" opposition forces in Syria, while Russia has been supporting Syria's legitimate authorities.
