Latest Breaking News
Showing Original Post only (View all)Russia admits targeting non-Isis groups in Syria as airstrikes continue [View all]
Source: Guardian
<snip>
Significantly, Russias official line appeared to change on Thursday, with a spokesman for Putin saying Russia was going after other groups in addition to Isis. These organisations are well known and the targets are chosen in coordination with the armed forces of Syria, the spokesman said.
Russia, like Syria, says all opponents of Assad are terrorists. Sergei Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, earlier dismissed reports of targeting non-Isis positions, describing the rumours as unfounded. Our targets are solely the positions of objects and equipment belonging to the armed terrorist group Isil, Russia Today quoted Lavrov as saying.
Syrian civil defence volunteers put the total civilian death toll from Wednesdays strikes on Homs and Hama at 40, including eight children. The volunteer group said thermobaric missiles had been used and claimed that they struck a public market, bread distribution point and administrative buildings in Homs, as well as civilian homes.
We cant believe an even more advanced military power has arrived in Syria to kill civilians, said one civil defence volunteer in a statement issued by his organisation.
<snip>
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/01/russia-targeting-non-isis-groups-syria-airstrikes