Moscow Says Would Like to Know What US Means by 'Next Phase' of Syria Campaign

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th December, 2018) Moscow would like to understand what the United States means by the "next phase" of its Syria campaign which has been announced after the withdrawal of the US troops from the middle Eastern country has been declared, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said.

"The United States has said that it had switched to a new phase, an unknown phase. There are no details but it allegedly includes the withdrawal of troops ... Of course, we would like to understand what this new phase and the new stage of the Syria campaign entails. And may it not turn out the way it happened in Afghanistan. You know this better than me. [The United States said] no, we fully withdraw the troops, and now we send them back.

And this has been happening for years," Zakharova told Channel One broadcaster.

The diplomat noted that the US withdrawal from Syria was "a return to the norms of the international law."

"I would like to remind you that they stayed there illegally, despite all the loud statements on the fight against the IS [terror group banned in Russia]," Zakharova pointed out.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Defense confirmed the pullout of US forces from Syria. On the same day, US President Donald Trump said the IS had been defeated in Syria, adding that this was the only reason for the United States to be in the Middle Eastern country during his presidency.