Russia Warns US against Airstrikes on Islamic State in Syria

Russia warned Thursday the U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria without a U.N. Security Council mandate would be a gross violation of international law.

"The US president has spoken directly about the possibility of strikes by the US armed forces against Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria without the consent of the legitimate government," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.

"This step, in the absence of a UN Security Council decision, would be an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law," he added, reports BBC.

Russia's reaction comes in the backdrop of Obama's speech in White House on Wednesday where he authorised airstrikes against the Islamic State militants in Syria.

Russia has backed the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war. It also thinks the United States would use the air strikes to attack the Syrian government forces.

"There is reason to suspect that Syrian government forces could also come under fire with serious consequences for further escalation of tensions," Lukashevich said, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, Syria also has opposed the U.S. move to carry out airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria.

Ali Haidar, the Syrian Minister of National Reconciliation Affairs, said that any type of action without the consent of Syrian government was an act of aggression against Syria.

He also said that foreign countries might  use the threat of Islamic State as a ploy to attack  Syria.

However, Syria's Western-backed main opposition group appreciated Obama's decision. They also reiterated their demand that Assad should step down, reports AL- Jazeera.

Hadi al Bahra, head of the Syrian national coalition, said that the association was eager to collaborate with the international community not only to destroy the Islamic State but also to free the people of Syria from the oppression of the Assad government.