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Speaking from the White House, Obama accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of failing to differentiate between Islamic State extremists and moderate groups who oppose the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
“That’s a recipe for disaster. And one that I reject," said Obama, adding that Russia's targeting of moderate opposition groups will encourage foreign fighters to join the conflict and draw the Russians into a quagmire. The Russian bombing of Homs, which is controlled by anti-Assad forces, targeted the Free Syrian Army, an opposition group that has received training from the U.S. to fight the Islamic State.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that the strikes “do not go beyond ISIL, [Jabhat] al-Nusra or other terrorist groups recognized by the United Nations Security Council or Russian law.”
The Syrian National Coalition, which represents the FSA and several other opposition groups, told reporters earlier this week that all 36 people killed by Russia’s airstrikes were civilians.
Earlier on Friday, the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey issued a joint statement calling on Russia to narrow its airstrikes to strictly target ISIS fighters. (not Jordan,and not the UAE)
Lavrov pointed out to reporters on Thursday that the U.S. operation against relies on a 2001 war authorization that allows for the use of force against al-Qaeda and “affiliated forces.” the Obama administration has said the 2001 mandate allows it to target ISIS and al-Nusra in Syria, arguing that those groups are offshoots of al-Qaeda.
Lavrov said, “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."
Obama Accuses Russia Of Strengthening ISIS
“That’s a recipe for disaster. And one that I reject," said Obama, adding that Russia's targeting of moderate opposition groups will encourage foreign fighters to join the conflict and draw the Russians into a quagmire. The Russian bombing of Homs, which is controlled by anti-Assad forces, targeted the Free Syrian Army, an opposition group that has received training from the U.S. to fight the Islamic State.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that the strikes “do not go beyond ISIL, [Jabhat] al-Nusra or other terrorist groups recognized by the United Nations Security Council or Russian law.”
The Syrian National Coalition, which represents the FSA and several other opposition groups, told reporters earlier this week that all 36 people killed by Russia’s airstrikes were civilians.
Earlier on Friday, the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey issued a joint statement calling on Russia to narrow its airstrikes to strictly target ISIS fighters. (not Jordan,and not the UAE)
Lavrov pointed out to reporters on Thursday that the U.S. operation against relies on a 2001 war authorization that allows for the use of force against al-Qaeda and “affiliated forces.” the Obama administration has said the 2001 mandate allows it to target ISIS and al-Nusra in Syria, arguing that those groups are offshoots of al-Qaeda.
Lavrov said, “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."
Obama Accuses Russia Of Strengthening ISIS
