Russia says zone for US-backed rebels could end up splitting Syria

Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces ride atop an armored vehicle after Raqqa was liberated from Daesh militants, in Raqqa, Syria October 17, 2017. (Reuters)

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday the formation of a zone controlled by US-backed rebels could lead to the partition of Syria.
Russia started to withdraw its forces from Syria last month, but Moscow has said it would keep its Hmeymim air base in Syria’s Latakia Province as well as its naval facility at Tartous “on a permanent basis.”