‘Russia both arsonist and firefighter in Syria’
Moscow blames US-allied rebels of blocking aid entry, civilian evacuation
WASHINGTON— A senior US general accused Russia of playing a destabilizing role in Syria and acting as “both arsonist and firefighter,” as a brief truce unilaterally declared by Moscow in the eastern Ghouta region collapsed.
“Diplomatically and militarily, Moscow plays both arsonist and firefighter, fueling tensions among all parties in Syria...then serving as an arbitrator, to resolve disputes, attempting to undermine and weaken each party’s bargaining positions,” said US Army Gen. Joseph Votel.
Votel is the head of the US military’s Central Command. He was speaking to a House of Representatives Armed Services Committee hearing.
Votel said Russia had failed to rein in its Syrian ally.
Destabilizing role
“I think either Russia has to admit that it is not capable, or it doesn’t want to play a role in ending the Syrian conflict. I think their role is incredibly destabilizing at this point,” he said. STILL AT IT Smoke rises from the rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta following fresh airstrikes and rocket fire despite the UN demand for a ceasefire.—
He added that Moscow was using Syria to test new weapons and military tactics, and had increased its surface-to-air missiles in the region.
Over the past week, Syria’s army and its allies have subjected eastern Ghouta to one of the heaviest bombardments of the war, killing hundreds.
A Russian call for a five-hour truce on Tuesday failed to halt the bombing, with residents saying that government warplanes had resumed striking the region after a brief lull.
‘Horrific’ attacks
The United Nations said it was proving impossible to aid civilians or evacuate the wounded, and said all sides must instead abide by a full 30day ceasefire demanded by the UN Security Council.
“They’re not adhering to the ceasefire because they continue to sponsor and back Bashar alAssad’s government. That is tragic,” said US state department spokesperson Heather Nauert.
She said the attacks in eastern Ghouta were “horrific” and likened the devastation there to the assault last year on Aleppo.
Rising tensions
As Islamic State militants near defeat in Syria, tensions between the United States and Russia have risen and added uncertainty to an already complex battlefield of opposing local fighters and their international backers, which also include Turkey and Iran.
Votel became the latest in a string of senior US defense officials to decline public comment on whether Russian civilian contractors were involved in a Feb. 7 attack on US and USbacked forces in Syria.—