Russia Says Can Protect Its Syria Assets If US Carpet Bombs


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday that Russia had the means to protect its assets in Syria if the United States decided to carpet bomb the Syrian government's military air fields.

Lavrov said he had heard that this was one option being advocated by some policy makers in Washington.

"This is a very dangerous game given that Russia, being in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate government of this country and having two bases there, has got air defense systems there to protect its assets," Lavrov said, according to Reuters.

Lavrov, in the same interview, said he was convinced that US President Barack Obama would not agree to such a scenario.

The United States broke off talks with Russia on Monday on implementing a ceasefire agreement in Syria and accused Moscow of not living up to its commitments under a deal to halt fighting and ensure aid reached besieged communities.

Russia says the United States is trying to shift blame onto Russia, which in recent days had tried to sustain the agreement.