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Russia Pledges to Continue Air Strikes to Back Assad

[kmapp]

Vladimir Putin’s government surprised officials in the U.S. and its allies by launching the bombing campaign, igniting doubt among officials in the U.S. and its allies who want Assad to step down. They’re questioning whether Russia targeted Islamic State militants as it contended or if it’s attacking other groups, some backed by the U.S., who are fighting to oust the Syrian leader.

“This operation is aimed at supporting the Syrian armed forces in their fight against Islamic State and other extremist groups,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call on Thursday.

The attacks raised the risk of accidents between Russian and U.S. jets, who are sharing airspace as they bomb targets in Syria. On Monday at the United Nations in New York, Putin called for a coordinated effort to oppose Islamic State “and other terrorist groups.” He called for the international community to stabilize the political situation in Syria, without mentioning an advance by government troops.

Full article at:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-01/russia-pledges-to-continue-air-strikes-to-back-assad-offensive