http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34399164
Syria crisis: Russia begins air strikes against Assad foes
Russia has begun carrying out air strikes in Syria against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.
The strikes reportedly hit rebel-controlled areas of Homs and Hama provinces, causing casualties.
The US says it was informed an hour before they took place.
Russian defence officials say aircraft targeted the Islamic State group, but an unnamed US official told Reuters that so far they did not appear to be targeting IS-held territory.
Vladimir Putin seems to be strategically out-manoeuvering the West here, he has his own agenda, and it's NOT fighting ISIS.
In a very short period time he has injected Russian equipment and hardware into the war and now Russian fighter jets have started bombing targets.
This is CLAIMED by Russia in their press releases and on the international stage to be all about helping to fight ISIS and to rid the world of Islamic terrorists.
But Homs and the other towns mentioned that were struck today are nowhere near ISIS-controlled territory. They are government-opposed rebel-held areas.
This is all clearly just about Putin helping a weakened Assad to stay in power.
What a mess this whole country has become:
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The Americans and allies are fighting ISIS, the rebels are fighting Assad, the Russians are now fighting the rebels, the Kurds are fighting ISIS, the Turkish are fighting the Kurds....
....and both the Turkish and now the Russians are claiming on the diplomatic stage to be fighting ISIS, but are actually pursuing their own political agendas against others.
And NOWHERE in all of this is a solution to get rid of both Assad and ISIS, and to let the millions of people in refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon to be able to return home.
Wish a lot of the political posturing and grandstanding would lead to action somewhere to somehow properly SOLVE the crisis.
This could go on for years.
Quote:
Syria crisis: Russia begins air strikes against Assad foes
Russia has begun carrying out air strikes in Syria against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.
The strikes reportedly hit rebel-controlled areas of Homs and Hama provinces, causing casualties.
The US says it was informed an hour before they took place.
Russian defence officials say aircraft targeted the Islamic State group, but an unnamed US official told Reuters that so far they did not appear to be targeting IS-held territory.
In a very short period time he has injected Russian equipment and hardware into the war and now Russian fighter jets have started bombing targets.
This is CLAIMED by Russia in their press releases and on the international stage to be all about helping to fight ISIS and to rid the world of Islamic terrorists.
But Homs and the other towns mentioned that were struck today are nowhere near ISIS-controlled territory. They are government-opposed rebel-held areas.
This is all clearly just about Putin helping a weakened Assad to stay in power.
What a mess this whole country has become:
The Americans and allies are fighting ISIS, the rebels are fighting Assad, the Russians are now fighting the rebels, the Kurds are fighting ISIS, the Turkish are fighting the Kurds....
....and both the Turkish and now the Russians are claiming on the diplomatic stage to be fighting ISIS, but are actually pursuing their own political agendas against others.
And NOWHERE in all of this is a solution to get rid of both Assad and ISIS, and to let the millions of people in refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon to be able to return home.
Wish a lot of the political posturing and grandstanding would lead to action somewhere to somehow properly SOLVE the crisis.
This could go on for years.