Moscow says that a Western information war is underway aimed at distorting the objective of its operation in Syria.
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Russian Federation last week began carrying out airstrikes in Syria in what it said was a pre-emptive operation against terrorism in the Middle East.
Riyadh, along with Turkey and other Gulf states, is a main supporter of rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Iran and Russian Federation, but it is also anxious about the rise of jihadist groups such as Islamic State among the opposition.
The Russian airstrikes strikes appear to have emboldened Syrian troops to launch the ground push after a series of setbacks in northwestern Syria in recent months. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Carter’s comments came a day after Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov complained about the narrow scope of the US talks and said the Russians want broad discussions on global cooperation between Russia and the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State.
“The Russian defence ministry has answered the demands of the Pentagon and is examining in depth American proposals on coordinating operations carried out… against the terrorist group Islamic State on Syrian territory”, Russian news agencies cited Igor Konashenkov as saying. The US will not set up a meeting with the Russians until that occurs, the official said.
The Pentagon says at least one USA military aircraft changed its route over Syria recently to avoid coming dangerously close to Russian warplanes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says French President Francois Hollande last week suggested that government forces in Syria form an alliance with the opposition’s Free Syrian Army.
The head and primary force of the observatory said there were no ISIS position in the areas targeted – and that fierce clashes were taking place on the ground between regime forces and their allies and armed Islamist rebel factions, including the Ahrar al-Sham and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front.
The other four were killed in airstrikes targeting IS locations in the ancient city of Palmyra in the province of Homs.
Since September 30, Russia have been targeting IS positions in Syria with aerial bombings, according to Russian and Syrian officials. Officials quoted by state media said there would be no ground operation in Syria and – in contrast to what officials had said earlier – Russian Federation would try to prevent any “volunteers” from going to Syria.
“I have said before that we believed that Russian Federation has the wrong strategy – they continue to hit targets that are not ISIL”. “We believe that is a fundamental mistake”. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on Monday denounced Russian Federation for “irresponsible behavior” for allowing its warplanes to cross into Turkey.
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“The holy warriors of Syria are defending the whole Islamic nation”.
