MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) - The United States' intention to preserve its military presence in Syria is unlawful, Russian Federation Council Defense and Security Committee head and former Russian Aerospace Forces Commander Viktor Bondarev said.
"The U.S.' military presence in Syria is unlawful. The American 'antiterrorist' coalition has not been invited either by the country's official and legitimate leadership or the people," Bondarev told Interfax on Tuesday in commenting on White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders' statement that the U.S. is not planning to withdraw its forces from Syria, even despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to start withdrawing most of the Russian servicemen from there.
The Americans previously "encouraged the opposition and helped the terrorists" in Syria, Bondarev said.
"And, certainly, as long as they have still not left Syria alone, this continues to pose a threat both to the country's territorial and political integrity and to the people's security," he said.