Russian Airstrikes Continue in Syria

The reason? Trump said he’s anxious a few of the refugees – who have been fleeing Syria after years of civil war – could be members of the terrorist organization the Islamic State, or ISIS, in disguise. But numerous strikes appear to have hit Western-backed rebel factions.

Ammar Awad / ReutersMembers of the Druze community hold a placard depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and Syrian flags during a protest in Majdal Shams, Syria.

The Russian intervention was widely criticized by Syrian opposition groups and activists especially since Moscow once played the role of a mediator hosting rounds of talks between the Syrian government and its opponents.

The insurgents, including rebel groups under the umbrella of the Free Syria Army, said such regional cooperation was needed to counter “the Russian-Iranian alliance occupying Syria“. It was apparently referring to backers of the opposition such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. This is the first such attack by the militant group in Homs following the start of the Russian campaign, which has hit parts of the province controlled by rebel groups.

He added the Russian Federation has “openly called for sharing all the useful information” on the Islamic State in Syria, but said “today this information is received only from colleagues from Iran, Iraq and Syria”. It said the airstrike left “a large number” of casualties. The Facebook page said dozens of people were killed or wounded in the airstrikes. With so many groups and foreign actors vying for dominance, even the removal from power of Assad – the main demand of the rebels supported by the US, much of Europe and Gulf states – is unlikely to enable the piecing together of a country that’s one only in name after more than four years of fighting.

Russian intervention in Syria could result in a quagmire, as President Obama predicted, especially if Russia bulks up its military footprint over time.

The Brotherhood’s media chief Omar Mushawah was quoted as saying that “we as Muslim Brotherhood group confirm that we are witnessing a sheer and clear Russian occupation” and that “resisting the occupier is a legitimate duty”.

Two Turkish F-16s intercepted a Russian fighter jet that violated Turkish airspace from Syria on October. 3, the Foreign Ministry in Ankara said.

Earlier this month National Review editor Rich Lowry said on Fox News that Republican presidential contender Carly Fiorina “cut his (expletive) off” in the second debate, sending Trump into a Twitter tizzy.

“It turned out that the only forces to do that are the Syrian army, the Iraqi army, the Kurds, and the Iranians”.

Russia’s presence in Syria may prevent the establishment of an ad hoc no-fly zone, a motion that has been discussed among regional and worldwide powers to protect civilians and shelter Western-equipped opposition forces.