Four-fifths of Russia's Syria strikes don't target Islamic State: Reuters analysis
Source: Reuters
Almost 80 percent of Russia's declared targets in Syria have been in areas not held by Islamic State, a Reuters analysis of Russian Defence Ministry data shows, undermining Moscow's assertions that its aim is to defeat the group.
The majority of strikes, according to the analysis, have instead been in areas held by other groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which include al Qaeda offshoots but also fighters backed by Washington and its allies.
Defence ministry statements of targets hit by the Russian Air Force and an online archive of Russian military maps show Russia has hit 64 named locations since President Vladimir Putin ordered the first round of air strikes three weeks ago.
Of those targets, a maximum of 15 were in areas held by Islamic State, according to a survey of locations of the rival forces in Syria compiled by the Institute for the Study of War.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/21/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-strikes-idUSKCN0SF24L20151021
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Their plan is to carve out the Allawite rump state for Assad and give ISIS the rest of the country.
As soon as their common enemies are gone, ISIS and Assad will pull off a Hitler-Stalin style non
-aggression pact.
ISIS's friends outnumber its enemies in that region at this point.
daleo
(21,317 posts)The goals of the western powers are murky at best, hopelessly contradictory at worst.
Munificence
(493 posts)has come out and labeled those fighting against Assad and outside of ISIS as "Terrorist". So they are going after them also.
Executing a play from our very own playbook.