Kerry cautious about Russian airstrikes in Syria

WASHINGTON

The U.S. would have “great concerns” if Russia strikes areas in Syria where militants are not operating, Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday.

Kerry's reaction to Russian airstrikes conducted earlier Wednesday came at a special UN Security Council ministerial meeting on counterterrorism and extremism in the Middle East that was chaired by Russia.

"The United States welcomes any genuine efforts to fight [Daesh] and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups, especially al Nusra," Kerry said. "If Russia’s recent actions and those now ongoing reflect a genuine commitment to defeat that organization then we are prepared to welcome those efforts and define the way to de-conflict our operations."

He warned, however, that the U.S. would question Russian motives, should Moscow target areas where militants are not operating.

"We would have great concerns should Russia strike areas where [Daesh] or al-Qaeda affiliates are not operating.”

Strikes of that kind would question Russia real intentions in its fight against Daesh, he said.

Germany express concer over Russian airstrikes in Syria

Germany expressed concern Wednesday over Russian airstrikes in Syria, urging Moscow to clarify the targets and methods of these military operations.

“The recent news about Russian airstrikes doesn’t reduce my concerns regarding the situation in Syria,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at a press conference in New York.

“So far we have no solid clues about targets and methods of these airstrikes. It is in Russia's interest to provide information of its own accord and as quickly as possible,” he added, according to a release by the German Foreign Ministry.

Russian warplanes on Wednesday struck targets inside Syria for the first time, according to statements by a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Head of the Turkey-based Syrian opposition leader Khaled Khoja said 36 Syrian civilians had been killed by the Russian airstrikes which were carried out in Homs, which was free of any Daesh or Al-Qaeda presence.

Steinmeier warned that any mistake during Russian air strikes may lead to a serious danger.

“Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said this morning in New York that if we want to deescalate the situation then we should all contribute to the coordination of international efforts in fight against ISIL. The same holds true for the activities of Russia,” he said.

Steinmeier underlined that Syrian conflict cannot be solved through military means and urged Russia not to undermine recent efforts for a political solution to the conflict.

“I hope that doors for a political solution, which were laboriously opened in recent days, also with the help of talks between [U.S.] President [Barack] Obama and [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin, will not be closed now,” he said.