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Saudis tell Russia its actions in Syria will have 'dangerous consequences'

12 October 2015 17:27 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Moscow's military intervention in Syria will have "dangerous consequences", escalating sectarian war there and inspiring militants from around the world to join in, senior Saudi Arabian officials told Russia's leaders on Sunday, a Saudi source said, APA reports quoting Reuters.

The message, twinned with a pledge of support for moderate foes of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia's ally, signals Saudi suspicions about Moscow's motives in entering a 4-1/2 year war in which some 250,000 people have been killed and some 11 million, or half the population, driven from their homes.

"The Russian intervention in Syria will engage them in a sectarian war," the source said on Monday, adding that the kingdom "warns of the dangerous consequences of the Russian intervention".

"The Saudis will continue strengthening and supporting the moderate opposition in Syria," he added.

The source said he was citing positions outlined by Defence Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir during meetings with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.

The bloodshed in Syria, part of a broader struggle for regional supremacy between Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran, has enflamed sectarian divisions across the Middle East and drawn religiously motivated foreign fighters to both sides.

Moscow's intervention has infuriated the kingdom and other foes of Assad who say the Russian air strikes have been hitting rebel groups opposed to the Syrian leader and not just the Islamic State fighters Moscow says it is targeting.

Gulf Arab states suspect the Kremlin's main motive is saving Assad and that counter-terrorism serves as a convenient excuse.