Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed great concern about the situation in Syria during her weekly press briefing on Nov. 5. “The country is experiencing a serious socio economic crisis,” she said. “Tough illegitimate sanctions on the part of the United States and its allies are hampering the efforts of the Syrian authorities to conduct comprehensive work to eliminate economic ruin and to assist the population. It is common knowledge that ordinary Syrians are suffering most as a result of this external pressure.”
Zakahrova also noted that ISIS is getting more active on both sides of the Euphrates River. “We are receiving information about more frequent terrorist attacks on the positions of the Syrian forces and Kurdish units,” she said. “In these conditions, local clans have announced the creation of the pro-government Fighters of the Tribes force for combating terrorists in Hama Governorate, Aleppo and eastern Idlib.” She also took note of the recent clashes between Turkish-controlled arms groups and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria.
