Russia’s Defense Ministry asserted Tuesday in that its air force flew 20 missions in Syria, striking 12 Islamic State targets, reportedly Reuters.
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“We welcome [Russia’s readiness to establish contacts with the FSA] and do not object to the meetings with Russian officials, but on the condition of ceasing airstrikes on positions of FSA units and the civilian population”, Masri said.
A few Western diplomats share Galeotti’s view that the Russians are welcome to take on Syria.
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 Pentagon says USA aircraft have had to change course to avoid colliding with Russian planes in Syria, sparking worries about an global incident. Director Rami Abdurrahman described it as “the most intense fighting in months”.
The cruise missiles hit the provinces of Raqqa and Aleppo in the north and also Idlib province in the northwest, Russian officials said.
Both Hama and Idlib provinces have already been heavily targeted by Russian warplanes in an aerial campaign that began a week ago and which Moscow says targets the Islamic State group.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Wednesday that the U.S.is not cooperating with Russian Federation in its campaign against IS but that the USA will conduct basic, technical talks with Russian Federation on its operations in Syria to ensure the safety of Moscow’s flights over the region. But the Russian Ministry of Defense claims its jets didn’t target the historic landmark city.
“On the whole, these proposals could be put in place,” he said. This has reportedly heightened the already escalating tension between Moscow and Washington.
“It is, of course, not possible to remain patient about this”, he added during a state visit to Belgium. Many of those countries have contributed money and weaponry to the rebel groups battling the Syrian strongman, a member of the country’s Alawite minority.
Turkey and Russia are important trade partners and Turkey is strongly dependent on Russian gas imports.
But they are at loggerheads over the Syrian conflict, with Ankara seeking the overthrow of Assad while Moscow does everything to keep him in power.
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The ground operation in Hama targets rebels from a range from groups, including moderate and Islamist opposition fighters as well as Al-Nusra.
