MOSCOW. Oct 25 (Interfax) - The enlargement of the U.S. contingent deployed in Syria's oil-bearing regions may increase confrontation in that country, State Duma Defense Committee First Deputy Chairman Andrei Krasov told Interfax on Friday.
"Hopefully, there will be no direct clashes between U.S. troops and Syrian forces, but one should remember that the actions of the United States and its administration, irrespective of its composition, are unpredictable," Krasov said.
"There are no grounds to believe that the United States is trying to restore peace in the Syrian Arab Republic as soon as possible," Krasov said. "The United States is seeding chaos and instability practically around the globe. In this context, the declared enlargement of the contingent somewhat evidences the intention of Washington to destabilize the situation in Syria and the Middle East," Krasov said.
"One should not forget that the United States was one of the countries that prepared the ground for the appearance of terrorist organizations in the Middle East and is now trying to protect members of such organizations in all kinds of ways and under any pretext," he said.
"The U.S. military presence in the Syrian territory is not legal," Krasov said. "I think the Syrian government does not need assistance of U.S. troops to protect its territory and oil sites. However, the United States frequently ignores international laws; it also disregards resolutions of the UN Security Council. This country acts to its own benefit and to the benefit of its geopolitical course," he said.
A number of U.S. media outlets said that the United States was considering deployment of 500 troops to northeastern Syria for protecting oil fields.