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Fight against Islamic state

Islamic State activities directly affect SCO countries — Russia’s Defence Ministry

The formation of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria triggers "special concern", Russian Deputy Defence Minister said

© AP Photo/Raqqa Media Center of the Islamic State group, File

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ST.PETERSBURG, June 30. /TASS/. The activities of the Islamic State terrorist group banned in Russia directly affect the member-countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Tuesday following meeting of the SCO Defence Ministers.

The formation of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria triggers "special concern", he said. Antonov noted that this organization had been created "with the financial and military assistance" of the West to topple the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

"Today terrorists and extremists have gone out control and are promoting their own interests," Antonov said, adding that the SCO member-countries were "directly affected by these processes."

"It’s no secret that thousands of extremists are gaining experience in the Middle East, including from the SCO member-countries. What these militants are capable of doing upon returning home, we saw in France, Denmark and other countries," Antonov added.

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