Damascus, September 12 (RHC)-- Damascus and Moscow have denounced possible unilateral U.S. air raids against ISIL terrorists in Syria, saying the attacks without a UN mandate would constitute an act of aggression.
 
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich, said on Thursday that potential U.S. airstrikes against the ISIL in Syria would be considered a gross violation of international law. 
 
“In the absence of an appropriate decision of the UN Security Council, such a step would become an act of aggression, a crude violation of the norms of international law,” Lukashevich said while referring to an announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama on the possibility of strikes in Syria.
 
Meanwhile, Syrian Minister of National Reconciliation Ali Haidar said U.S. airstrikes in Syria without the permission of Damascus would be an “attack on his country.”  He reminded the United States that international law dictates that any action, whether military or otherwise, needs Damascus' approval.
 
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011. The Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- are reportedly supporting the militants operating inside Syria.