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Conflict in Syria

UN calls for avoiding escalation of Syrian conflict following US airstrike

On May 18, aircraft of the US-led international anti-terrorism coalition delivered an airstrike on the positions of pro-government units in Syria

© AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

UNITED NATIONS, May 19. /TASS/. The United Nations is not in a position to independently confirm reports about the US airstrike on the Syrian pro-government militias, UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters on Friday.

According to him, the UN secretariat is "aware of media reports that an anti-daesh coalition struck a convoy of the Syrian army and pro-government militias in southern Syria." "We’re not in a position to independently confirm these reports," he added.

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At the same time, the UN deputy spokesman said that "it is imperative to avoid an escalation of the conflict, therefore we appeal for restraint to avoid any acts that could deepen the suffering of the Syrian people" "There is no military solution to a conflict," Haq concluded.

On May 18, aircraft of the US-led international anti-terrorism coalition delivered an airstrike on the positions of pro-government units in Syria active in the de-escalation zone set up northwest of the city of Tanf. According to the coalition sources, these units posed a threat to the United States and its partners.

Earlier on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the US airstrike was unlawful, besides, it proved Washington’s intention to make the Jabhat al-Nusra terror group (outlawed I Russia) to fight against Syria’s legitimate government.

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