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Russia accuses US of training anti-government militants in Syria

RUSSIA accused the United States today of 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.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told 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 President Bashar al-Assad.

The base was used for war games exercises in September in what the US claimed was training in “war-fighting skills for counter-terrorism operations.”

However broadcaster CNN said the operations were a response to Russian military threats after Moscow was reported to have sent a written note to the US warning it would carry out “precision strikes” on militants around the Al-Tanf area despite a roughly 34-mile de-conflictive zone around the base.

US operations in Syria have escalated in recent weeks, with a sustained bombing campaign in Deir ez-Zor, which has killed scores of civilians and led to accusations of the use of the banned chemical white phosphorus on at least four occasions.

“The so-called US-led coalition has been conducting intensive airstrikes on the outskirts of Hajin, occupied by Isis causing numerous civilian deaths,” Ms Zakharova said. “According to the Syrian media, the coalition has once again used white phosphorus shells.

“By maintaining its illegal military presence in Syria and failing to specify its purpose and provide a timeframe, Washington makes it clear that it is not interested in an early resolution of the crisis in the country.”

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem demanded during a UN meeting in September that US, Turkish and French “occupying forces” withdraw from the country immediately.

The government has reasserted control over large swathes of the country following an eight-year war.

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