Russia on Monday warned a military assault on Syria risked causing an "surge in terrorism" in the region and urged for a peace conference to end the two and a half year civil war.
"All the more, politicians share our estimation that a military solution will lead to a surge in terrorism both in Syria and in neighboring countries," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem.
"The possibility for a political solution remains," Lavrov said, emphasizing that his Syrian counterpart has assured him at the talks in Moscow that Damascus was still "ready for peace talks."