The Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the recent death of Russian General Valery Asapov in Syria during the mortar shelling of the IG with tislamists (a terrorist organization banned in Russia). As Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, this loss "our country paid for its confidence in the forces of the international antiterrorist coalition led by the United States," the website of the Zvezda TV channel reported,. "The death of the Russian commander is the price, the payment of blood for the duplicity of US policy in Syria in the issue of resolving the crisis in the region," stated Ryabkov. Referring to the American leadership and the Pentagon, the diplomat added that the moment for truth has come for America when it will be necessary to determine its goal of the goal - either to fight world terrorism in Syria and Iraq, or to support it honestly and openly, "RIA Novosti reported.. "Moscow is alarmed by the fact that the US, when it declares its interest in the liquidation of the Islamic State terrorist group, demonstrates the opposite. The fact, unfortunately, is obvious, and it is very disturbing, "Ryabkov told reporters.

Lieutenant-General Valery Asapov, who led a group of Russian military advisers, was killed near the city of Deir ez Zor during a mortar attack on terrorists. Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation published video footage showing several Islamic strongholds in the Deir-ez-Zor area. There are no militants in them, but there are American special forces. Moreover, there are no traces of combat around these objects.