Interfax: Russia to verify reports on closure of CIA program backing Syrian opposition – Foreign Ministry

July 20, 2017 JRL Russia List Middle East, North Africa, Military, Spies, Spy Allegations, Syria, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

Artist's Rendition of U.S. Embassy, Moscow, with the Russian Foreign Ministry in the Background

MOSCOW. July 20 (Interfax) – Russia intends to verify reports by U.S. media outlets on President Donald Trump’s decision to phase out a covert CIA program of providing aid to the Syrian opposition, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

“We welcome all steps aimed at defusing the situation and strengthening security in the Middle Eastern region. If this is being done in this context, then it’s OK. But I’d stress that we will verify these nuances,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Artyom Kozhin said at a news briefing in Moscow on Thursday.

The Washington Post had reported earlier that Trump had decided to close the CIA program of arming and training a series of opposition groups in Syria.