Russia calls U.S. move to protect Syrian oil 'banditry'

MOSCOW - Russia's Defence Ministry is harshly criticizing the United States' decision to send armoured vehicles and combat troops into eastern Syria to protect oil fields. U.S. Defence Secretary Mark Esper says the move is aimed at keeping the fields from potentially falling into the hands of Islamic State militants. But Russian ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday that "what Washington is doing now, the seizure and control of oil fields in eastern Syria under its armed