Russia says US-led forces in Syria engaging in "provocations"

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov accused US-led forces of carrying out "bloody provocations" against Russian troops in Syria in an interview published by the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al Awsat on Wednesday.

"The activities of US-led forces raise many questions ... In some cases, these forces have indirectly encouraged other terrorists to attack strategic positions rightfully regained by Damascus, or they have deliberately engaged in bloody provocations against our forces," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister appeared to be referring to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which the US-led coalition is backing in a drive against Daesh in eastern Syria, mainly in the city of Raqqa. 

SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militants, is led by the YPG. The YPG is considered by Turkey as an offshoot of the PKK, which has been designated as a terrorist group by Ankara, the EU and the US.

The PKK has been waging an armed campaign against Turkey since 1984. 

Russia last month accused the SDF of trying to sabotage a separate offensive by its ally, the Syrian regime's forces, against Daesh around the city of Deir Ezzor, where Russia lost one of its own generals in late September.

To prevent the two operations from clashing, the coalition, the SDF, the Syrian regime and Russia have agreed on a "de-confliction line" in northeast Syria, though the US-led coalition has since accused Russian aviation of bombing its SDF allies. 

"Today all actors must abandon their geopolitical ambitions and contribute fully to the restoration of stability and security of Syria and throughout the Middle East and North Africa," Lavrov told Asharq al Awsat, calling for a lifting of sanctions against Bashar al Assad's regime to help Syria's recovery.

Last month the SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, accused Russia of killing one of its fighters and wounding others in strikes on a gas facility it captured two days earlier from Daesh in eastern Syria.

The alleged bombardment was the second time the SDF has accused Russia and the regime of hitting its forces.

A week before the group said six of its fighters were wounded in air strikes by regime and Russian warplanes in the Al Sinaaiya area around seven km (four miles) from the eastern bank of the Euphrates.

Moscow warned Washington of reprisals after accusing the SDF of firing on Syrian regime forces in the province.