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Pentagon aggravates situation around interaction in Syria - Russian Defense Ministry

Earlier US Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey said that about 14 months ago, US troops intercepted a Russian major general in the Syrian area of Manbij
The Russian Defense Ministry's Main Building Mikhail Pochuyev/TASS
The Russian Defense Ministry's Main Building
© Mikhail Pochuyev/TASS

MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/. The case of a Russian general "intercepted" by the US military in the Syrian area of Manbij occurred more than a year ago, the Ministry of Defense of Russia said on Saturday.

"The fact mentioned by the US representatives happened about 14 months ago in the area of the Syrian settlement of Manbij, which was then under control of the three: the US-led so-called ‘anti-terrorist coalition’, Kurdish units, as well as the Syrian government forces," the Defense Ministry said.

The military department explained that at that time all parties operating on the ground had to constantly coordinate their actions to avoid conflict situations.

"Therefore, the case presented by the US representative is a good example of effective existing channels of interaction between the military of the two countries in Syria," the ministry emphasized.

The ministry added that certain Pentagon representatives artificially aggravate the situation around the interaction of countries in Syria, including patrols, which does not help stabilize the situation, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Saturday.

"We believe that the artificial aggravation of the situation by individuals from the Pentagon around situation with performing patrol tasks does not help to stabilize the situation and only prevents the military from doing their job," the Defense Ministry said.

The ministry noted that "today in Syria absolutely normal and professional relations have developed between the armed forces of Russia and the United States."

On January 23, US Special Representative for Syria James Jeffrey told reporters that about 14 months ago, US troops intercepted a Russian major general in the Syrian area of Manbij. According to him, the issue was resolved through military channels.

The Russian Ministry noted that the military personnel of the two countries are always aware of the location of each other’s forces, and all uncoordinated actions in places of contact are quickly resolved through existing channels.