WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- A coalition of countries urged Russia to end aerial attacks on Syrian militias and direct its attention to fighting Islamic State forces.
The coalition, comprised of Britain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States issued a statement Friday in response to intelligence suggesting Russian airstrikes beginning Wednesday targeted areas not controlled by IS -- also identified as Daesh, ISIS and ISIL.
"We express our deep concern with regard to the Russian military build-up in Syria and especially the attacks by the Russian air force on Hama, Homs and Idlib since yesterday which led to civilian casualties and did not target Daesh," the statement read. "These military actions constitute a further escalation and will only fuel more extremism and radicalization."
Russia's stated goal in Syria is the defeat of IS -- also identified as Daesh, ISIS and ISIL. President Vladimir Putin is also one of the few allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russian aircraft, operating from their base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, targeted the Idlib training camp of a Syrian rebel group supported by the CIA and fighting IS for over a year, among other targets, U.S. military officials said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking Thursday in New York, defended the Russia's Syrian mission.
"I would recall that we always were saying that we are going to fight ISIL and other terrorist groups, this is the same position that the Americans are taking, the representatives of the coalition command have always been saying that their targets are ISIL, al-Nusra and other terrorist groups. If it looks like a terrorist, if it acts like a terrorist, if it walks like a terrorist, if it fights like a terrorist, it's a terrorist, right? This is basically our position, as well. We see eye-to-eye with the coalition on this one."
The U.S.-led coalition has not reduced its own airstrikes on IS bases within Syria despite Russia's entry in the conflict Wednesday and the possibility Russian and U.S.-led coalition planes could be at cross-purposes through their lack of mutual coordination of actions.
"We have not altered operations in Syria to accommodate new players on the battlefield. We are continuing our operations in Syria," said Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren.
Russia's Ministry of Defense posted video of airstrikes it said it conducted on 12 IS targets Syria on Friday. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 IS militants were killed in Russian strikes near Raqqa, The Wall Street Journal reported.
НЗа прошедшие сутки самолеты российской авиагруппы Су-34, Су-2...За прошедшие сутки самолеты российской авиагруппы Су-34, Су-24м и Су-25 совершили 18 вылетов по 12 объектам террористической группировки #ИГИЛ на территории Сирии.Ночью было совершено 10 самолетовылетов. Нанесены точечные удары по 7 объектам террористов.В результате прямых попаданий уничтожены командный пункт и узел связи вооруженных формирований ИГИЛ в районе ДАР-ТААЗЗА, провинция АЛЕППО.Штурмовики Су-25 нанесли удар по полевому лагерю боевиков ИГИЛ в районе МААРЕТ-ЭН-НУУМАН, провинция ИДЛИБ.Полностью разрушены бункеры, а также склады оружия и горюче-смазочных материалов террористов.В результате точечного бомбового удара в районе ХАБИТ, провинция ИДЛИБ, уничтожен объект, использовавшийся боевиками в качестве перевалочной базы и крупный склад боеприпасов.В провинции ХАМА, в районе населенного пункта КАФЕР-ЗАЙТА, самолетами Су-24м полностью разрушен командный пункт боевиков ИГИЛ, представлявший хорошо укрепленный бетонный объект, в котором террористы оборудовали укрытия. Анализ материалов видеоконтроля показал, что также были уничтожены несколько десятков единиц техники, оснащенных крупнокалиберными стрелковым оружием.1 октября самолетами Су-34 были нанесены удары по лагерю подготовки ИГИЛ в районе населенного пункта МАДАН-ДЖАДИД и замаскированному командному пункту в районе КАСЕРТ-ФАРАДЖ, юго-западнее города РАККА.В результате ударов командный пункт боевиков ИГИЛ выведен из строя. Инфраструктура, использовавшаяся для подготовки террористов, полностью уничтожена.Российские Су-34 наносили точечные удары по целям с высоты более 5 000 метров.Бортовое прицельно-навигационное оборудование этих самолетов позволяет обеспечить попадание по любым наземным объектам с абсолютной точностью. Что вчера и было подтверждено при выполнении боевой задачи по уничтожению инфраструктуры ИГИЛ в районе населенного пункта РАККА.С применением данного типа самолетов удары могут наноситься по объектам террористов на всей территории Сирии.Тактико-технические характеристики применяемой авиатехники:Бомбардировщик Су-24м — http://bit.ly/1hfusm6;Штурмовик Су-25 — http://bit.ly/1JJbvySИстребитель-бомбардировщик Су-34 — http://bit.ly/1M4frfz#ISIS #Сирия #ВКС #ВВС #Syria #AerospaceForces #AirForceIn the course of the last 24 hours, Su-24M and Su-25 effectuated 18 combat missions attacking 12 ISIS facilities on the territory of Syria.Ten flights were performed at night. Pinpoint attacks engaged 7 terrorist objects.Direct hits destroyed a command and communication centre of the ISIS armed groupings near Dar-Taaza (Aleppo).Su-25 attack aircraft hit the field base of the ISIS militants near Maarrat Al-Nuuman (Idlib).Terrorist bunkers as well as ammunition and POL depots were completely destroyed.Pinpoint bomb attacks eliminated a facility used by militants as a transshipment base and a large ammunition depot.In Hamah, near the settlement Kafr Zita, Su-24s eliminated an ISIS HQ, which constituted a fortified concrete object with equipped shelters. Reconnaissance video analysis confirmed destruction of dozens of combat vehicles equipped with large-caliber machine guns.On October 1, Su-34 aircraft engaged ISIS training base near Madan-Jadid and a hidden HQ near Cassert-Farahj to the south-west of Raqqah.As a result of the strikes, the command centre was made inoperative. The infrastructure used for terrorist training was completely destroyed.It is to be emphasized that the Russian Su-34s attacked targets from the altitude of over 5 000 metres.Combat and navigation equipment onboard allows to engage any ground object with absolute accuracy. This was confirmed yesterday during the combat missions aimed at destruction of ISIS infrastructures at Raqqah settlement.Using this type of aircraft, Russian air grouping will be able to attack terrorist facilities all over Syria.
Posted by Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation on Friday, October 2, 2015
