Russian Syria Intervention a ‘Game Changer’

But Washington has said Moscow’s campaign has mainly targeted other insurgent groups including those that have fought Islamic State.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday that US and Russian defense officials will hold more talks on de-confliction of U.S.-led coalition and Russian aircraft above Syria.

“The United States has recognized that it was a failure and right now they keep distributing ammunition, hardware, equipment”, Putin said.

The US has repeated expressed concern over Russia’s involvement in the region, claiming Russian strikes on anti-Assad rebels, including those backed by the USA, have actually aided the Islamic State terrorist group, which both the US and Russia claim to be combating.

The air drop was a response to Russia’s decision, on 30 September, to begin its air campaign in Syria.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Russian embassy carrying placards and posters in support of embattled Syrian president Bashar Assad and the Russian president Vladimir Putin and the Russian intervention in the government’s fight against rebels.

Russia’s increasing attacks prompted a warning from Syria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, with its chief Abu Mohamed al-Jolani urging jihadists in the Caucasus to target Russians.

Russian planes flew 88 sorties, hitting 86 Islamic State targets, in the past 24 hours in Raqqa, Hama, Idlib, Latakia and Aleppo provinces in Syria, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said on Twitter.

The United States and its allies – who do not think that Assad is an essential ingredient to Syria’s future success – are very frustrated by Russia’s actions, as it threatens to turn the already complex war into an even more protracted affair.

Russian Federation insists it is mainly targeting ISIL and other “terrorists”, but the multi-pronged ground-and-air offensive is being waged in areas controlled by U.S.-backed rebels as well as other insurgents including Nusra Front.

“The new Russian invasion is the last arrow in the quiver of the enemies of the Muslims”, Jolani said in an audio recording released late Monday.

The officials said “thousands” of Iranian troops have arrived there to participate in the attack, which will occur “soon”.

He similarly pledged a €2m reward to the killer of Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that has been fighting alongside government forces.