Moscow calls on US to do more to counter Syria's al-Nusra

Russia called on the US to do more to combat the al-Nusra Front in Syria, considered a terrorist group by both Moscow and Washington even after it split from Al-Qaeda.

"Washington agrees that al-Nusra, which will henceforth be called the Fateh al-Sham Front, is a terrorist organisation, but it has not been the target of strikes" carried out in Syria by the US-led international coalition, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"It has been nearly a year in which the Americans have refused to share with us their data on the location of al-Nusra militants," the statement said.

"Instead of taking practical steps (against al-Nusra), the Americans have made any intensification in their fight against terrorism conditional on promises of (regime) change" in Syria, it added.

Russia warned the US against creating a "new terrorist monster in Syria".

America has for two years led an international coalition against the IS group, conducting daily strikes and working with local forces on the ground to help them fight the jihadists. 

Russia started bombing in Syria last year, but most of its strikes have been in support of the regime.

In June, Russian aircraft conducted a series of air strikes near al-Tanf in southern Syria targeting US-backed counter-IS forces.

Russia surprised the international community last week when it announced that its warplanes had flown out of Iran's Hamedan base to conduct strikes against targets in Syria.

Source: AFP