Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said the Russians want broad discussions on global cooperation between Russia and the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State.
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The missiles were launched by warships in the Caspian Sea, and Russian Federation said they passed over Iran and Iraq to reach their targets, covering what Mr Shoigu described as a distance of nearly 1,500 km. “No civilian objects sustained damage”, Shoigu said.
Russian efforts “will be synchronised with the actions of the Syrian army on the ground and the actions of our air force will effectively support the offensive operation of the Syrian army”, Putin said in the meeting with Shoigu on Wednesday. In addition, Iranian military advisers have always been active on the ground in Syria and would most likely be involved in such a crucial operation.
Adml Vladimir Komoyedov, the head of Russia’s parliamentary defence committee, had also been quoted as saying that Russian veterans would “emerge” as part of the Syrian army.
The ground offensive aims to push insurgents out first in northern Hama Province, where the attacks on Wednesday took place, later moving north into Idlib Province, according to the official and to diplomats and analysts in the region.
IS seized control of Palmyra in May and has realised worldwide fears by destroying a few of the most prized sites in the UNESCO World Heritage listed ancient city.
Though the Islamic State has no presence in the areas hit Wednesday, al-Qaida’s affiliate in Syria, the Nusra Front, is active in central and northern parts of the country – as are the Western-backed rebels.
[Russia says Islamic State hit; West says rebels].
“We believe that this centre will develop in the near future to be a joint operation command to lead the war against Daesh in Iraq”, said Zamili, using a derogatory Arabic acronym for Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS or ISIL. “Give the list, give the call signs of these people”. Separately, a high-ranking military official in Syria told AFP that claims Moscow was allegedly preparing for a ground intervention was a Western attempt at diminishing Russia’s role. “Indeed, this information is not provided”.
There was no official account from Russian Federation or Syria on the latest airstrikes.
– Russia, a decades-long backer of Syria’s regime, launched its first air strikes in Syria on September 30.
The USA was still waiting Wednesday for a formal response from Russian Federation on a draft document laying out proposed technical safety procedures for the aircraft flights, the defense official said.
Carter had called on Russian leaders to discuss Moscow’s military activities in Syria, reflecting urgent concerns about Russian aircraft violating Turkish airspace.
Two low-flying helicopters were seen in Morek but escaped militant fire, the Observatory said.
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“There’s a need to create a new coalition and force that is actually effective on the ground and performs the actual goal of fighting Daesh”, said Mohammed Naji, another aide to Amiri. But it has also heavily hit rebels on the front-line against Syria’s military, raising accusations that it is intervening to boost Assad in the civil war, now in its fifth year, after a series of losses by his military.
