Russia critical of U.S. plan to give rebels air cover in Syria
Rebel fighters ride a motorcycle near Al-Shaar bridge, which according to activists has been closed off by rebels as it is a target for snipers from the forces of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, near Hanano barracks in Aleppo on 1 August 2015. Photo: Reuters
Moscow: Russia on Monday criticised U.S. plans to provide together with Turkey air cover for Syrian rebels, saying any support for rivals of Russian ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hampered Damascus’ fight against Islamic State.
Ankara and Washington are hoping that together with the Syrian rebels they would sweep Islamic State fighters from a strip of land along the Turkish border.
'Moscow has stressed multiple times that helping Syrian opposition, let alone helping with financial or (military) technical means, would lead to a further destabilisation of the situation in the country,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Reuters