US Needs Russia as Part of Anti-ISIL Campaign - US Army Europe Commander

14.10.2015 08:50

US Needs Russia as Part of Anti-ISIL Campaign - US Army Europe Commander

Russian participation in the campaign against the Islamic State in Syria is essential, Commanding General of the US Army in Europe Ben Hodges told Sputnik.

Last week, the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized the airstrikes are aimed at promoting a political settlement of the nearly five-year-old civil war in Syria.

"We need Russia to be a part of anti-ISIL [Islamic State], if that is what they are going to do," Hodges said on Tuesday of the possibility of US-Russian cooperation in Syria.

Hodges was critical of Russia’s engagement in the anti-Islamic State fight in Syria, warning of the potential impact on Europe of a larger number of refugees fleeing the violence in Syria.

"That is going to complicate things in Europe, as well if you see the number of refugees increase."

During the past two weeks of engagement in Syria, Russia has launched more than 400 airstrikes destroying some 370 objects in the campaign against the Islamic State.