Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed deep concern on Tuesday over what he described as ethnic cleansing by “radical militant groups” in Syria.
Lavrov told Russian state news agency TASS that these groups were engaged in “real ethnic cleansing,” involving mass killings based on ethnicity and religion. However, he did not specify which groups he was referring to.
Russia, which operates two military bases in Syria, has been a key supporter of the government of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Assad, who has found asylum in Russia, was backed by Moscow during the Syrian civil war.
Sectarian violence erupted in Syria’s coastal northwest in March, a region historically aligned with Assad, resulting in the killing of hundreds of people from his Alawite sect by HTS jihadists.
Russia has sought to maintain its relationship with Syria’s new authorities, who have indicated they may allow Moscow to retain access to key military sites, including the Hmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval base.
In a shift in U.S. policy, President Donald Trump recently ordered the removal of sanctions imposed during Assad’s rule, marking a significant change in Washington’s approach to Syria.