Balasdi News
The Morning Star newspaper reported the Russian accusations for U.S on training militants in the strategically important Al-Tanf region of southern Syria, where it has established a military base despite being told to leave the country.
The newspaper quoted Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying in a press conference that Moscow has information that the US military is training anti-government militia close to the Jordanian border, which it has held since it was captured by the New Syrian Army in 2016.
“In fact, under the excuse of fighting against the ISIL and, as we were told, in order to contain Iran, a big US military base was set up there, in a strategically important area adjacent to the borders of Syria, Iraq and Jordan, which is close to the highway connecting Baghdad and Damascus,” Ms Zakharova said.
“And there, according to numerous witness accounts, militant training is under way.”
Ms Zakharova confirmed that the Kremlin was concerned that the US had established a large military based in the sovereign territory of a United Nations member state, despite being asked to leave Syria by Bashar al-Assad, the newspaper added.
Assad Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem demanded during a UN meeting in September that US, Turkish and French “occupying forces” withdraw from the country immediately.