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Russia is only country striking at Islamic State legally — Iran’s state-run news agency

The US-led coalition is carrying out air strikes on Syria in violation of international law, the Fars statement says

TEHRAN, October 2. /TASS/. Iranian state-run news agency Fars has circulated a statement on Friday, which says that Russia is the only country carrying out air strikes on Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria on legal grounds.

"The US-led coalition is carrying out air strikes on Syria in violation of international law, because such actions on the territory of a sovereign state may be carried out only with the authorization of the UN Security Council or at the request of the authorities of the country," the statement says. "In contrast to the Pentagon’s statements, Russia not only declares the strikes on Islamic State but really delivers them at the positions of IS and other terrorist groups. Moscow is thus trying to put an end to the war and not to inflame it. It has no intention of reshaping the region."

"America’s war against IS has failed, and now America does not want Russia and Iran to reach their goals in the fight against terrorist groups," Fars noted. "Caught unaware by Moscow’s actions, the US authorities condemn them. This is surprising: after all, Russia even proposed Washington the coordination of actions in the fight against IS, but the latter refused and instead came up with numerous accusations. Instead of making accusations, the proponents of the resignation of [Syrian President Bashar] al-Assad should work together with Russia and Iran to forge an international coalition to combat terrorism."