Russia is trying to counter American diplomatic influence by fueling conflicts in Syria, the commander of the US Middle East Command, Joseph Votel, said.
He said that Russia is simultaneously presenting itself as an arbiter in the civil war.
"I am very serious when I say that they are playing the role of both arsonist and firefighter - inflaming tensions, and then trying to resolve them to their advantage," Votel told the congressional Armed Services Committee.
According to him, Russia is using the conflict in Syria to test new weapons and tactics, often without paying attention to collateral damage or civilian casualties, and the increased number of Russian surface-to-air missile systems in the Middle East threatens America's access to and ability to dominate airspace in region.
Votel added that Russia and Iran want to strengthen Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and also to weaken or break the strategic partnership of the United States of America (USA) with Turkey.
Washington and Ankara are at loggerheads over the role of the Kurds, whom Turkey considers terrorists.
Speaking about the Kurds, the general said that partners on the ground in Syria have made great progress towards their goals and that the US will be with them until the end of the fight, referring to the fight against the Islamic State.
According to Votel, Moscow should not receive any praise for the defeat of the Islamic State, because along with the fight against the jihadists, they are helping Assad defeat the opposition.
"Russia has jeopardized progress with its activities, because it is not focused on defeating the Islamic State, but on preserving its influence and control over the outcome of the situation. It is clear that Russian interests in Syria are not those shared by the wider international community," Votel said.
He also negatively assessed Russia's role in Afghanistan and said that he was also worried about Iran's influence in Syria and Iraq.
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