Russia has condemned the US-led airstrikes targeting ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Syria, calling the move a violation of international law.
“Russia would like to emphasize that such actions can only be undertaken within the framework of the international law,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Tuesday.
The law “prescribes to have a prior and clear consent of the government of Syria to such actions, or a decision passed by the UN Security Council to that effect,” Lukashevich added.
He also noted that the initiators of the unilateral measure should bear full legal responsibility for their action.
According to reports, the United States and its allies have carried out at least 200 airstrikes against the ISIL militants operating inside Syria. The strikes were carried out without approval of the United Nations. The Syrian government says the US had informed if of the strikes in advance.
The air raids were launched in northern and eastern Syria late on Monday, apparently targeting militants from the ISIL and the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front. However, some 12 civilians are so far said to have been killed in the raids.
On Monday night, Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement that the US army and “partner nation forces are undertaking military action against ISIL terrorists in Syria using a mix of fighter, bomber and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles.”
The ISIL terrorists currently control parts of Syria and Iraq. They have carried out heinous crimes in the two countries, including mass executions and beheadings of people.