News / Middle East

Russia Launches New Wave of Airstrikes in Syria

In this photo made from the footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site on Oct. 1, 2015 a bomb explosion is seen in Syria.
In this photo made from the footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site on Oct. 1, 2015 a bomb explosion is seen in Syria.
VOA News

Russia said that its warplanes bombed a terrorist stronghold and other terror targets in northern Syria on Saturday and that it would continue its push against Islamic State extremists despite Western claims that the aerial campaign is largely targeting Western-backed rebels.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Andrei Kartapolov, speaking to Russian reporters, described "panic and desertion among [Islamic State] ranks" and said "nearly 600 mercenaries" were fleeing the northern town of Raqqa.

"We will not only continue strikes ... we will also increase their intensity," Kartapolov said in comments quoted by Russia's RIA news agency.

The United States and its allies have condemned the days-old Russian air campaign, claiming that Moscow is using the offensive as a cover to buttress the government of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.  

In the latest Western critique, Britain's defense chief said only 5 percent of Russia's airstrikes had targeted IS extremists, with most of the Russian bombs instead aimed at rebel groups seeking to oust Assad.

"We're analyzing where the strikes are going every morning," British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said in an interview with the Sun newspaper. "The vast majority are not against IS at all.

"Our evidence indicates they are dropping unguided munitions in civilian areas, killing civilians, and they are dropping them against Free Syrian forces fighting Assad," Fallon added. "He [Russian President Vladimir Putin] is shoring up Assad and perpetuating the suffering."

More airstrikes

Kartapolov also said Saturday that Russian warplanes had conducted more than 60 flights in the past 72 hours, targeting more than 50 Islamic State facilities.

"All the targets were destroyed quickly, irrespective of weather conditions and time of day," he said.

In this photo made from the footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site on Oct. 3, 2015 a bomb explosion is seen in Syria.
In this photo made from the footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site on Oct. 3, 2015 a bomb explosion is seen in Syria.

The ministry also posted YouTube videos of the strikes, which it said were carried out using SU-34 and SU-24M fighter jets.

Obama: No proxy war

On Friday, President Barack Obama insisted the conflict was not going to become a "proxy war" between Washington and Moscow, even as the two countries conduct airstrikes on different groups inside Syria.

"This is not some superpower chessboard contest," Obama said at a White House news conference.

President Obama Talks About Russia's Actions in Syriai
X
October 02, 2015 9:16 PM
During his Oct. 2 press conference, President Obama said Russia 'had to go into Syria, not out of strength but out of weakness.'

At the same time, he was critical of Russia's military engagement in Syria, calling it a "recipe for disaster."

"[Putin] had to go into Syria not out of strength, but out of weakness because his client [Assad] was crumbling and it was insufficient for him [Putin] to send him arms and money. Now, he's got to put in his own planes and his own pilots," he said.

Obama noted that the Russians do not distinguish between Islamic State militants "and a moderate Sunni opposition that wants to see Assad go. From their perspective, they're all terrorists."

The president said this lack of distinction would have consequences for the Syria that emerges from the conflict, because the moderates will be needed to help run the country.

Obama said the U.S. would continue its current policies of attacking Islamic State, supporting Syrian moderates and working with the Turks along the border — and above all, seeking a political solution, which he said would “not be easy” but was “still possible."

Strikes discouraged

A U.S.-led coalition on Friday urged Moscow to halt any attacks on the Syrian opposition and focus on Islamic State targets.

"These military actions constitute a further escalation and will only fuel more extremism and radicalization," said the coalition statement, posted on the Turkish Foreign Ministry's website.

The coalition that includes U.S., Britain, Turkey, France, Germany, Qatar and Saudi Arabia has been carrying out airstrikes against IS targets for about a year.

In a comment clearly aimed at the coalition airstrikes, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem told the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Friday that airstrikes "are useless unless they are conducted in cooperation with the Syrian army, the only force in Syria that is combating terrorism."

Political solution

Putin, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed Syria during a peace summit on Ukraine Friday.

Hollande said afterward that he told Putin Russian airstrikes must target Islamic State and only Islamic State.

French President Francois Hollande (L) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace, on Oct. 2, 2015, for a peace summit on the Ukraine conflict.
French President Francois Hollande (L) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace, on Oct. 2, 2015, for a peace summit on the Ukraine conflict.



In his speech Friday at the U.N., Moualem said that his government would participate in U.N. working groups to reach a peace deal, but that it could not implement democratic reforms related to elections or the constitution while "fighting terrorism."

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Comment Sorting
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by: Marcus Aurelius II from: NJ USA
October 04, 2015 9:25 AM
I was pleased to hear Donald Trump's comments about stepping aside in the war against ISIS in Syria. That is exactly how I see it too. Again I think President Obama is wrong. If and when ISIS is defeated, there won't be much left of Syria as it is already a shattered country. Nor will there be a flood of money to rebuild it. It will be just one more bombed out ruin. By distancing itself from this fight in Syria, the US will be under no obligation to pay anything to rebuild it.

As for Iraq, the US spent 2 trillion dollars to secure the country. It has oil resources. But given an opportunity to rebuild their nation instead the Iraqis threw that opportunity away by creating a Shia dominated state that persecuted the Sunnis and Kurds. THEY alone opened the door to ISIS. We can give them some help with bombing targets but no boots on the ground. If we give them more weapons they'll only turn them over to the enemy again. Let Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah sort it out. They can all kill each other off for all I care.

by: Godwin from: Nigeria
October 04, 2015 8:34 AM
USA should define its role in the war against/sponsorship of, terror. Before now it was vaguely clear what role USA/allies play in the entire saga. While it’s no hidden fact that USA created/equipped/funded al-qaida, USA under George W. Bush instituted a program of war-on-terror, designating some Mideast countries axis-of-evil/terror as their involvement with sponsorship/support/accessory to Islamic terrorism/extremism was concerned. That arguably placed USA on the forefront of war on terror. But recent developments tend to shed different light on USA as one not sincere with its posture to defeat terrorism. USA hasn’t showed consistency in the war against global terrorism, instead it wears the garment of anything goes in the pursuit of achieving national goals – fair or foul – only consistent in words not action. Unfortunately all of Europe queues behind USA to rubbish the image of war on terror leaving an altruistic posture of USA is rather leading a coalition of state-terrorism while Russia’s on the right tract to defeat terrorism. Are all anti-Assad rebels in Syria, including Nusra Front, not terrorists? What do we call the US-led coalition support to them? What when with 6 other countries USA fights Russia showing USA uses global terrorism to achieve its national goals?

by: meanbill from: USA
October 04, 2015 8:06 AM
[WHAT'S NEXT in the Syrian war?] .. What happens after the US, NATO, and their Sunni Muslim allies propaganda war in the western news media fails to deter the Russian bombing assault on the terrorists? .. [Think about it?] .. The US, NATO, and their Sunni Muslim allies still have to arm and resupply their terrorist allies, and that task has become more difficult with Russian warplanes bombing everything, and making airdrops more dangerous? .. [REMEMBER?] .. The terrorist strategy is to withdraw when the enemy reinforces their positions with overwhelming air power, but the Russians will bomb anybody trying to withdraw and regroup? .. where can they go?

[In desperation], the US, NATO, and their Sunni Muslim allies will ask and demand a Russian ceasefire so civilians can leave the combat zones, as an excuse to let their terrorist allies withdraw from the front lines, and to rearm and resupply their terrorist allies? .. [SORRY?] .. [But that's the next part of the Syrian war story?] .. [more to follow?]


by: Mehdi Hussain
October 04, 2015 7:30 AM
After Russian Air strike,, One thing is very good going to happen.... All the Terrorist will come together....
2nd thing: America introduce Jihadi in Afghanistan, later they become terrorist, help jihadi in Syria, Later they become ISIS,,, all the time America is behind the terrorists,, because America is applying Pakistan policy,, good and bad taliban,,, same formula America is applying in syria,,, good and bad terrorist... Good move by Russia, to kill good and bad terrorist....

by: Kelly Andrews
October 04, 2015 2:34 AM
USA, you are already under attack from Russia and it's allies, you mean you mean you will keep condemning Russia's active actions until it enters your bedroom???

by: Sharam from: Vancouver, BC
October 03, 2015 11:39 PM
The US went into Iraq and deposed Saddam, Iraq is in ruins
The US went into Libya and deposed Gaddafi, Libya is in ruins
The US is trying to do the same thing in Syria, what will be the end result ?

On average the US has been conducting 5 airstrikes on ISIS every day. Russia conducts 50 in one day!! ISIS IS PANICKING. They know that Russia is serious.

If the US was serious about taking on ISIS, then why didn't they stop ISIS when they were besieging Palmyra ?

The US spent half a Billion dollars to train 50 "moderate" rebels. All of them have joined Al Nusra.

These are the facts:

The war in Syria IS NOT a civil war, it's a FOREIGN BACKED insurgency

There is NO SUCH THING as a moderate rebel.

9 out of 10 of the Syrian rebels ARE NOT SYRIAN

2 branches of Al QAEDA (Al Nusra and ISIS) control 90 percent of the opposition held territory

In 2011, during the Syrian protests, the moderate Syrian people wanted reform NOT the overthrow of the government

Zbigniew Brzezinski has stated that Assad would win any fair election in Syria

by: the phd (huc)
October 03, 2015 10:28 PM
This problem can solution with efective way! If you want to solve it. I will be advise for you! quote "not anything is free" and today not me make be batter but only money!

by: David from: Dont ask
October 03, 2015 9:34 PM
The fact that in those estimates they count free Syrian army soldiers as civilians is....troubling
In Response

by: Godwin from: Nigeria
October 04, 2015 8:45 AM
I think it's all count down to discouraging Russia from doing what it has to do in Syria - end the war and carnage in record time. In many years/months of aerial bombardment by US-led coalition, ISIS has only been seen to become stronger. Right now with the entry of Russia into the scene, many ISIS soldiers and volunteers are taking to their heels and deserting. Who says the west is not the real anchor of these terrorists! USA created al qaida which gave birth to ISIS, why do we think that USA - its grandparent - won't use everything at its disposal to defend it, including deception to make the world see it as fight ISIS while in essence it's shielding them. Has anyone taken time off to reason where ISIS and others get their sophisticated weapons from?

by: Not Again from: Canada
October 03, 2015 8:33 PM
How? can Russia conduct 50 airstrikes, in one day, when they only have about 20 airplanes; the US coalition, in the entire almost two years, barely can muster at best 26 to 32 airstrikes and most days under 20? It just demonstrates, that is the Obama administration that is in a quagmire, of ineffectiveness and inefficiency, not the newly arrived Russians. The Russians with their ""museum pieces and dropping dumb bombs they are achieving very high turnaround rates. Imagine if Russia sent their new airplanes (SU 27+/Mig 30+), and in equal numbers as the US coalition; the Russians would be able to launch 125 strikes per day, by now IS would be fully degraded right off the map... For sometime I was having a concern, with the extreme inefficiency of the US air coalition .....not much more efficient than the training program, what gives? no interest in degrading IS, or any one else? I am not a fan of Putin and his gang, but the West needs to find out how his air-force can carry out 50 strikes in one day with a few planes, which are "classic relics", that the Western experts have found as "not sound", with" poorly trained personnel"...!

by: Alex from: NY
October 03, 2015 4:37 PM
I am not fan of Putin but I really hope for his successes in this mission. Saudi Arabia and ISIS should be really worried now. They are facing a major power that really means it when it says it wants to fight and root out terrorists.
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