- Sputnik International
Asia
Find top stories and features from Asia and the Pacific region. Keep updated on major political stories and analyses from Asia and the Pacific. All you want to know about China, Japan, North and South Korea, India and Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Weapons Could Fall Into Terrorists' Hands in Syria - Kremlin

© AFP 2023 / MAHMOUD TAHA Rebel-fighters monitor the sky holding a FN-6 man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) in the Syrian village of Teir Maalah, on the northern outskirts of Homs, on April 20, 2016.
Rebel-fighters monitor the sky holding a FN-6 man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) in the Syrian village of Teir Maalah, on the northern outskirts of Homs, on April 20, 2016. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
MANPADS could fall into terrorists' hands after the US lifts restrictions on supplies of arms to Syria allies, and that would be the worst outcome of this decision, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

A man rides a bicycle past burning tyres, which activists said are used to create smoke cover from warplanes, in Aleppo, Syria August 1, 2016 - Sputnik International
Obama Waives Restrictions on Military Assistance to Foreign Forces in Syria
The danger of MANPADS falling into terrorists' hands is a "regional and a global threat," Peskov said.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday in a memorandum to the US Departments of State and Defense waived restrictions related to providing military assistance to foreign forces in Syria, according to a White House press release issued on Thursday.

"We'll need to pay close attention and understand the main goal, the intentions and the details of this decision. Without doubt, the worst outcome of such decision would be if different weapons, including MANPADS, would fall into terrorists' hands, which, of course, goes against international conventions on this issue and poses a great danger not only to the region, but also <…> to all countries," Peskov said.

When asked if this decision could pose a threat to Russian Aerospace Forces, Peskov said "absolutely".

"However, there are certain means of defense. These are very advanced technologies, [guidelines on] precautionary measures that pilots must follow in these conditions. But all the same, the danger is very high," Peskov elaborated.

Earlier on Thursday, State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau claimed that the US position against arming the Syrian opposition will not change even if government forces retake Aleppo.

The Syrian Army was in the process of retaking the remaining districts held by militants in southern Aleppo, a source told RIA Novosti.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала