Russian Federation snubbed the summit called by the United States, sending a low-level diplomat to the meeting to take stock of the one-year campaign to defeat IS jihadists, who control large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.
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In vast areas of Syria and Iraq, Daesh has “created an extremist quasi-state, which commands an efficient repressive apparatus, stable sources of income, well-equipped army and elements of weapons of mass destruction”, he said.
Instead, Carter said the strikes highlight a contradiction in Russia’s approach.
“Strikes would be carried out against the military equipment, communication centres, transport vehicles, arms depots, ammunition as well as fuels and lubricant materials of IS terrorists”, Russia’ s Interfax news agency cited Konashenkov as saying.
A key unanswered question, however, is what the USA will do if the Russian airstrikes target moderate Syrian rebel groups working with the coalition in the fight against the Islamic State.
Syria’s civil war has raged for four years, with an array of armed groups fighting to overthrow the government. “But we must not and will not be confused in our fight against Isil with support for Assad”. The assault began hours after the Russian parliament authorized action and President Vladimir Putin vowed to forge ahead.
Meanwhile, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 27 civilians were killed and dozens of others wounded on September 30 by Syrian air strikes in central Syria, in the Homs Province. None of the areas targeted were controlled by IS, activists said.
France demanded Wednesday that Russian Federation confirm the targets of its air strikes in Syria, amid concerns they may not have been aimed at the Islamic State group, before accepting the enlarged coalition Moscow wants.
“The military aim of our operations will be exclusively to provide air support to Syrian government forces in their struggle against ISIS (Islamic State)”.
“If they [militants] succeed in Syria, they will return to their home country, and they will come to Russian Federation, too”, he said. Russian Federation has justified its strikes by saying Syria requested its military assistance.
In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Kerry suggested that Moscow could find itself in the cross hairs of Sunni terrorists if Russian President Vladimir Putin backs Assad. Syrian state television named at least seven areas targeted by the air strikes.
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Also, Russian President Vladamir Putin told reporters that his country was bombing only Islamic State group targets.
