The US-led international coalition has been systematically bombing the Syrian infrastructure since 2012 and has not targeted ISIL-held oil facilities, the Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Wednesday.

“Outgoing CIA head Brennan is well aware of the fact that long before the start of the Russian campaign, the international coalition has been systematically destroying Syria’s economic infrastructure to weaken the legitimate government as much as possible, heedless of burdens for civilians resulting in millions of refugees,” he said.

The ministry’s statement comes after CIA chief John Brennan accused Moscow of using “scorched-earth” policy in Syria.

“Surprisingly, the coalition has not attacked oil facilities captured by ISIL, which allowed the terrorists to make tens of millions of dollars per month through illicit oil trade and recruit mercenaries from all over the world,” Konashenkov added.

“Sooner or later one will be held accountable for it. That is why Mr Brennan’s attempt to cushion the blow will hardly help. John Brennan is well aware of the real results of Russia’s actions in Syria,” the Russian official said.

Thanks to the Russian Aerospace Forces, over 12,000 square kilometers of Syrian land and 499 settlements have been liberated, 35,000 militants including 204 commanders have been eliminated. “But the main outcome is that, without the outgoing [US] administration, without CIA, a ceasefire agreement was signed on December 30,” the spokesman stressed.

Both Washington and Moscow have been conducting military operations against terrorists in the war-torn country. The US-led international coalition of more than 60 members has been carrying out airstrikes against ISILtargets in Iraq and Syria since August and September 2014 respectively. Russia began its own operation in September 2015 at the request of Syrian government.

Source: Sputnik