Russian missiles ‘hit IS in Syria from Caspian’

Soleimani’s one mission was to sell Putin on the idea that Russian airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria was imperative.

Syria’s conflict, which began as an uprising against Assad in March 2011 but descended into a full-blown civil war after a fierce government crackdown, has so far killed 250,000 people, according to United Nations figures. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. But, as the ISIS close-in on Damascus from where Assad continues to “rule” what remains of Syria, it became pressing for Russian Federation to assist this dictator to stay in power for the outcomes otherwise would certainly not be in favor of its own national interest. That’s despite Russian officials’ insistence that they will not use ground forces in their operations inside Syria.

Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin in televised remarks that Russian Federation on Wednesday morning carried out 26 missile strikes from four warships of its Caspian Sea flotilla.

The U.S.-led coalition has had a few successes in helping Iraqi forces reconquer territory lost to IS in 2014 but overall the campaign has also suffered setbacks.

“No matter how unpleasant and unexpected it is for our colleagues in the Pentagon and Langley, our strike yesterday with precision-guided weapons at ISIS infrastructure in Syria hit its targets”.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says a government offensive began on four fronts Wednesday in the northwestern provinces of Idlib and neighboring Hama.

And now, with both USA and Russian jets flying in the same air space, the chances for “just an accident” are growing, Kaine said.

Hasan Ibrahim in Kuwait’s Al-Ra’i thinks “what the Americans really do not want is the Russians succeeding in defeating IS”, where they failed. Iran has been bolstering Assad by sending weapons and advisers, and helping arrange the deployment of Shiite fighters from Iraq and Hezbollah, as well as sending financial aid.

Also Wednesday, the United States announced it would not cooperate militarily with Russian Federation in Syria because its strategy is “tragically flawed”.

Putin said earlier that Hollande had suggested “it might be possible to at least try to unite the efforts” of Assad’s forces and the Free Syrian Army against the Islamic State group. Activist Ahmad al-Ahmad said rebels repelled government troops from at least one village.

A military source in Hama said that “the Syrian army in its latest operations is working on cutting off the southern parts of Idlib province from the northern parts of Hama province”.

The Observatory said 37 Russian air raids hit on Wednesday alone.

On a weeklong trip to Europe, Carter is focused on reassuring European allies of USA support as they face growing security threats from a more aggressive Russian Federation and militant extremists from north Africa. It was unclear if it was Syrian or Russian. “No more questions”, the official said in tones of renewed confidence and optimism.

Putin said the shelling of Islamic State militants in Syria from the Caspian shows the good level of the Russian defense industry and the military. Later, a group of U.S.-backed troops had to surrender ammunition, vehicles and equipment to a terror group linked with Al Qaeda in order to get safe passage through a contested area of Syria. “We believe this is a fundamental mistake”, Carter told a press conference in Rome, referring to IS by an alternative acronym.

Guard commanders repeatedly have said Iran only has high-level advisers in Syria, denying it has fighters there. He could not provide details, including how many times this has happened.

The missile strikes at unknown targets from the Caspian are meant to project “strength and power”, according to Lilia Shevtsova, a nonresident fellow and Russian Federation expert at the Brookings Institution. And he dismissed Russia’s explanation that it had been patrolling Turkey’s border as a way to help the country. Turkey scrambled F-16s in response and also summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge protests.