Merkel, Hollande Talk of Syria, Ukraine With Putin

Russian jets appeared to be primarily bombing central and northwestern Syria, strategic regions that are the gateway to Assad’s strongholds in the capital of Damascus and the coast.

The British group said Tajamu Alezzah was also targeted on Wednesday.

Following the strikes, the Jaish al-Fateh rebels started moving weapon depots out of the cities of Idlib province, much of which have fallen to the Jaish al-Fateh, which is an alliance of several jihadi groups, including the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

Russian Federation says a bomb-making facility as well as a command post belonging to the Takfiri Daesh terror groups has been destroyed in Moscow’s anti-terror airstrikes in Syria.

Since fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine 18 months ago, Moscow has used its state media and top-level denial to mask its military involvement in the conflict and rebuke growing evidence suggesting Russian troops supported – and sometimes directly fought alongside – separatist forces.

He said this position was the same as that of the US-led coalition which has been carrying out air strikes in Iraq and Syria for the past year. We’re going to use the world’s greatest air force to protect our people on the ground over there, and if Putin tries to cross the line, he’ll see what he gets.

Vladimir Putin entered talks Friday around Syria’s fate after an intervention that ensured Russia’s role as a major player no matter what the outcome.

The influx of advanced aircraft has raised eyebrows and prompted a few observers to question exactly who Russia’s planning to fight in Syria.

That agreement – backed by the USA, Russian Federation and many nations – calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body vested with full executive powers, on the basis of mutual consent, leading to the drafting of a constitution and elections.

Lavrov said the top global priority now must be “fighting terrorism”, especially the Islamic State group.

“That is not good news for the Russians”, Mr. Earnest said. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the first reports about civilian casualties appeared before our craft were airborne.

“This is really very unusual”, Churkin said.

“Rumors that the targets of these strikes were not IS positions were groundless”, he stressed, adding that the Russian Defense Ministry has clearly stated on its website the targets and objectives of Russian airstrikes in Syria. “It’s trust but verify”, he said. Nobody pretends it’s going to be easy. Officials acknowledged, however, that other unidentified groups were being targeted as well.

The Russian defense ministry released footage of the airstrikes carried out by the country’s air force on Wednesday. He later said Su-34s also had flown missions.

Russian Federation then sent reconnaissance drones over Western Idlib and Hama, where there are no Islamic State fighters. The Syrian government considers all rebel groups terrorists. More than 200,000 have been killed, and millions have been displaced.

He said that’s what he discussed with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Gulf ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s annual ministerial meeting, which ends Saturday. “We don’t come if not invited”. “This does not mean, however, that we should not pay heed to such information”, Putin said on Thursday.

With American and allied airstrikes daily, and now Russian warplanes in the Syrian airspace, the war is taking on a unsafe new dimension.

Mr Lavrov said the targets were selected “in co-ordination with the Syrian army”.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it fully supports Russian airstrikes against “terrorist groups” in Syria.

Here’s everything you need to know about Russia’s military intervention in six graphics.