Egypt backs Russian airstrikes in Syria

Egypt says Russia’s anti-terror airstrikes in Syria will restrict the spread of terrorism and deal a major blow to the Daesh group in the violence-torn Arab country.

“Russia’s entrance, given its potential and capabilities, is something we see is going to have an effect on limiting terrorism in Syria and eradicating it,” said Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in a televised interview broadcast on Saturday.

Shoukry’s remarks are the latest sign of a thaw in relations between Russia and Egypt. During Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s official visit to Russia in August, Cairo and Moscow called for forming a coalition to counter terrorism in the Middle East.

Moscow began its military campaign against terrorists in Syria on September 30 upon a request from the Damascus government, shortly after the upper house of the Russian parliament gave President Vladimir Putin the mandate to use military force in Syria.

On Friday, Putin said one of the key objectives of Moscow’s air campaign in Syria is to preserve the Arab country’s territorial integrity.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has also hailed the Russian airstrikes as an “effective” participation in the Arab nation’s fight against the Takfiri extremist groups, which have been committing heinous crimes in the country with the backing of the Western states and their regional allies since 2011.

Daesh controls swathes of land in Syria and neighboring Iraq. The group has also carried out terror attacks in other countries of the world, including Egypt, through its affiliates.

Editor’s note: This article has been edited from the source material