Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov vowed to "actively support" Syrian troops from the air around Aleppo today, after a weekend of fierce fighting left dozens dead in the divided city.
Speaking in Moscow, Lavrov said Russia has waited long enough for Syria's moderate opposition to leave areas controlled by jihadist groups, and that air raids by Russia should "not be a surprise".
"What is happening in Aleppo and around it now, we warned the Americans about this in advance, and they know that we will be actively supporting the Syrian army from the air to prevent terrorists from seizing territory," he told a press conference.
Washington "is asking us and Syrian leadership to delay air strikes" until opposition forces are separated from jihadists of the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front, he said.
"We believe there has been more than enough time" for that, he said.
"Everyone who has not left the terrorists now only have themselves to blame."
"We will be deciding on how our airforce should act based on our understanding of the situation," he said.
"We share this understanding with the Americans during video-conferences... There won't be any surprises for the Americans."
At the weekend, the Russian defence ministry unusually dispatched several statements marked "urgent" about clashes and massing "terrorist" forces near Aleppo, even suggesting the presence of Turkish troops.
Early Monday, the ministry said there were over two thousand militants near the Sheikh Maqsud neighbourhood, among them "various terrorist groups and teams of so-called 'moderate opposition'," accusing them of killing dozens of civilians.
Aleppo is divided between government and rebel control and has seen some of the worst fighting, which has thwarted diplomatic efforts to get the sides to move towards peace.
