It should however be noted that the majority of Russian airstrikes have not been carried out against the self-proclaimed Islamic State, but rather against other rebel groups centered in Syria’s western regions.
Advertisement
The war in Syria erupted in 2011 and has killed more than 220,000 people, according to United Nations estimates.
The visit by Russian lawmakers came days after Assad’s own surprise trip to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Even the U.S. is now looking into options that would allow Assad to stay on for a short period of time before his ultimate exit. “I believe that in the final solution we all want for Syria to be a united country in which all sects live equally and to be a country devoid of any foreign forces”.
The meeting focused on the deeply-rooted historical relations between the Syrian and Russian peoples and the importance of consolidating these relations, particularly in the field of counterterrorism and in providing humanitarian aid, in addition to other spheres, on top of which, the economic domain.
A Reuters analysis of defence ministry data last week found that nearly 80 per cent of Russia’s declared targets in Syria have been in areas not held by IS. The vote was won overwhelmingly by Assad for a new seven-year term but dismissed as a sham by opponents with much of the country at war and millions forced from their homes.
On Monday, the Russian military said its jets struck 94 “terrorist” targets in Syria over the past 24 hours, the highest one-day tally since Moscow started its bombing campaign on 30 September.
The statement did not state Assad’s position on the idea of holding elections.
The Free Syrian Army’s Issam al-Reis says Russia’s offer has no credibility because the Russians, contrary to their claims, have not been targeting IS, also known as ISIS. After a meeting in the Egyptian capital, Adel al-Jubeir said worldwide talks to find a solution to the Syrian conflict had yielded a few progress, but that more work needed to be done. He said most people from Aleppo moved toward villages and towns in the countryside west of the city.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., lashed out at Defense Secretary Ash Carter Tuesday morning during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing over the US strategy against Syrian President Bashar al Assad.
Last week, Secretary of State John F. Kerry announced the meeting among countries that border Syria, are involved militarily in the conflict or are coping with an influx of Syrian refugees.
While Putin is gaining more control over the military situation in Syria and Obama is continues to be perceived as a weaker side of this equation.
Human Rights Watch meanwhile urged Russian Federation on Sunday to investigate two air strikes in Homs province that killed 59 civilians earlier this month.
Advertisement
David Deptula, a retired three-star Air Force general who led planning for the air war in Operation Desert Storm, said the rates for American fighters in combat zones has been above 90%.
