Russia says US providing cover for Islamic State in Syria

The United States is providing de-facto cover for Islamic State units in Syria and only pretending to fight terrorism in the Middle East, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry said the US air force had tried to hinder Russian strikes on Islamic State militants around the Syrian town of Albu Kamal.

"These facts are conclusive evidence that the United States, while imitating an uncompromising fight against international terrorism for the global community, in fact provides cover for Islamic State units," the defence ministry said.