MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko has said one should not take seriously statements about the US ground operation against the Islamic State terrorist group [banned in Russia] in Syria and Iraq.
"I would not take such statements seriously. This is unacceptable, that is too much," she told reporters.
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The senator noted that "the United States was flagrantly violating international law," since its air force operations in Syria were conducted illegally without the authorization of the UN Security Council or a request from the authorities. "If we talk about ground operations, that would be another gross violation of international law," she added.
Earlier, some media reported that the United States was considering ground operations against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. In particular, they referred to a statement of US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.
"We won't hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against ISIL, or conducting such missions directly whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground," Carter said in testimony before the Senate Armed Services committee.
According to media reports, a decision may be taken at an early date on sending US special operations forces to Syria.