Russia’s Syria airstrikes are propping up Bashar Assad – Michael Fallon

A short time ago, Russian Federation started a military buildup at Syria’s Latakia airport and this week, on Wednesday, launched air strikes against Syrian opposition forces in an attempt to support Assad’s regime. During the video call, Elissa Slotkin, who represented the USA, expressed America’s concerns that Russian Federation is targeting areas where there are few if any Islamic State forces operating. Its unclear how many Syrian fighters have received US vetting, although the military acknowledges reviewing upwards of 8,000 potential recruits, many of whom were deemed ineligible for training.

After Russia’s intervention, which fighting groups have said will only prolong the war, the Syrian National Coalition reiterated its position that Assad must be excluded from any political process. The meeting was called to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine, but these are expected to be overshadowed by Syria. Russian raids also hit “an IS command post” in Kafr Zeita in Hama province.

His comments echo the outspoken criticism of Russia’s intervention by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who said the “vast majority” of strikes since president Putin began the action had not been aimed at IS jihadists but were instead “killing civilians” and the Free Syrian forces rebelling against Assad’s regime.

A decision, the officials said, would likely be made as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the US military’s support for rebels to fight Islamic State following setbacks that have all but killed a “train-and-equip” program.

On Thursday, one CNN anchor ranted about Putin’s air force attacking “our guys”, i.e., CIA-trained rebels, and demanded to know what could be done to stop the Russian attacks.

According to the Observatory, IS does not control any of these areas.

“We need to eliminate this group or at least neutralise it and afterwards we’ll see what Syria’s future is”, he said.

As Hollande hosted Putin in Paris, both men looked stern and frosty-faced in the yard of the Elysee palace, exchanging terse handshakes for the cameras.

Residents in the northwestern countryside of Homs province said leaflets were dropped calling on fighters to give themselves up and promising them they would be well treated.

Mr. Putin then showed his utter contempt for Mr. Obama by launching his air campaign against our erstwhile anti-Assad allies not 48 hours after meeting Mr. Obama.

Lebanese sources have told Reuters that hundreds of Iranian troops have also arrived in recent days in Syria to participate in a major ground offensive alongside government troops and their Lebanese and Iraqi Shi’ite militia allies.

The claim of agreement with Washington came amid conflicting reports about Russia’s intentions in Syria and whether it is targeting only Islamic State and al-Qaeda-linked militants.

“If they don’t help us, people will lose trust in our supporters, and this will increase extremism”.

“We are not pushing” for using the P5+1 to tackle the Syrian crisis, the U.S. official added.

Asked about the prospect of Assad continuing as president, Mr Blunt told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yes, we might have to live with it”.