Russia urges cooperation between US-led coalition, Damascus

Russia Saturday said the fight against terrorists in Syria by US-led coalition should be structured in cooperation with the Syrian government.

"It goes without saying that the fight against terrorism should rely on a solid basis of international law," Xinhua quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying during the general debate of UN General Assembly.

The US and five Arab countries Monday began to launch air strikes against targets of militant group Islamic State in Syria. Washington said the Syrian government had been informed of the strikes beforehand.

Washington has openly declared its right to unilateral use of force anywhere to uphold its own interests, Lavrov told world leaders.

"Military interference has become a norm -- even despite the dismal outcome of all power operations that the US has carried out over the recent years," he added.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday said all measures to fight terrorist groups operating in Syria must be fully in line with the Charter of the United Nations and strictly in accordance with international humanitarian law.