Russia’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations has emphasized the need for eradicating terrorism in Syria, saying the withdrawal of US troops from the Arab country would facilitate the elimination of the remaining terrorists there.
"It is necessary to completely exterminate the remaining nests of international terrorism in Syria and to do away with the presence of... (Daesh)...and other groups in Syria," Vassily Nebenzia said during a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.
"The withdrawal of US occupational forces from the Syrian territory would mean a swift and inevitable elimination of terrorist presence in this much-suffering country and of terrorist [networks] in neighboring states," he added.
Nebenzia said the terrorist groups are sheltered in territories that are not controlled by the Syrian government.
He went on to say that during a patrol mission over Syria on August 4, Russia’s air taskforce eliminated a group of US-backed terrorists in Syria, as they were hiding in shelters in the country's al-Badia desert.
The so-called Shuhada’ al-Qaryatayn Brigade was positioned in the strategic al-Tanf area in southeastern Syria, which is controlled by US troops, he said.
The terror outfit committed terrorist killings in the Badia region against civilians, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The US and its allies invaded Syria in 2014 under the pretext of fighting Daesh. However, numerous reports and regional officials have pointed to the US role in transferring Daesh elements throughout the region and even airlifting aid to the terrorist group.
The Syrian government says the United States, the Israeli regime, and their Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are spreading insecurity in the country.
The US military has stationed forces and equipment in eastern and northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.
Damascus, however, says the unlawful deployment is meant to plunder the country’s oil and other resources.
Former US president Donald Trump admitted on several occasions that American forces were in Syria for its oil.