“… The Russian ships have been positioned in the south Caspian Sea, meaning the likely flight path for missiles into Syria would cross over both Iran and Iraq”. Tehran made no comment.
Advertisement
“In contrast to CNN, we do not talk with reference to anonymous sources”, the Russian Defence Ministry said.
The Russian bombing campaign appears to have weakened these groups, and given IS the opportunity to push forward, he adds.
“Russia has already launched more than 100 airstrikes against the Islamic State and factions of Islamist and US-backed rebel forces opposed to President Bashar Assad”.
Atshan sits to the east of the north-south highway running through major western cities in Syria.
But officials said they were trying to adapt in real time by seeking to identify the leaders of “capable, indigenous forces” in Syria who would sign a pledge to fight the Islamic State group, receive a few instruction on human rights, review the law of armed conflict, and leave with communications gear and a few help on how to call in airstrikes.
According to The Guardian, Iranian forces confirmed for local media on Friday that Gen. Hossein Hamedani was killed near Aleppo. The Russian defense ministry summed up its perspective on the air strike campaign.
“This will have consequences for Russian Federation itself which is rightly fearful of attacks. But Russian actions and the support to the regime are not helpful”, he said.
Jim Muir, a BBC correspondent in Beirut, said the air strikes appear to be hitting Syrian forces that threaten the Syrian government.
The Melkite Greek Catholic archbishop of Aleppo Jean-Clement Jeanbart on Thursday welcomed Moscow’s intervention, which he told Swiss television “serves the Christians’ cause”. It comes amid a wave of Russian airstrikes and a ground offensive by the Syrian army in the country’s central region.
Makushev said militants “have sustained significant casualties and been forced to change their tactics”, seeking refuge in towns and villages, stressing that Moscow would increase the intensity of the strikes.
Advertisement
“Why didn’t America attack Daesh fighters during their attack?” asked Rami Abdurrahman, director of the Observatory. It has raised fears that Russian Federation, by hitting rebel groups that are fighting Isil as well as the regime, will inadvertently strengthen the hardline jihadists they say they want to crush.
