US says not sure what Russian jets targeting in Syria
The United States has reacted to Russia’s air campaign against Daesh (ISIL) terrorists in Syria, saying it is not sure what Russian warplanes are targeting in the Arab country.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Wednesday that it was "too early for me to say what target they were aiming at and what targets were hit."
He made the remarks after Russia launched airstrikes against the terrorists near the city of Homs.
Although Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured that the warplanes were targeting ISIL terrorists, Earnest said, the White House could not confirm who the Russian military forces are targeting inside Syria.
“The Department of Defense is going to take a look at the Russian military activities there,” Earnest added.
“It is fair to say that US officials had already been in touch with their Russian counterparts to set up those meetings," he said. “It’s accurate to say those deconfliction conversations have not occurred” but they are expected to begin soon.
Earlier, he remarked that Russia’s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is a sign of weakness, accusing the Kremlin of being concerned for losing its influence in the region.
He said there is no evidence that Putin is on the march in the Middle East.
"The fact that Russia has to take these noteworthy steps to ramp up their support for Assad is an indication for just how concerned they are about losing influence in the one-client state they have in the Middle East," Earnest added.
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011.Since then Syrian forces have been battling ISIL terrorists on different fronts throughout the Arab country.
US and some of its regional allies have also been engaged in airstrikes purportedly against ISIL terrorists.
According to Stephen Lendman, however, the US has never targeted the terrorists in the region.
"Why haven’t they wiped out by America,” asked Lendman, “because America hasn’t targeted them so far.”
“The Russian campaign against ISIS has begun and what concerns Washington is they want to protect ISIS (ISIL) on the ground, Russia wants them eliminated," Lendman told Press TV on Wednesday. “[ISIL] forces are very easily spotted, and they could be very literally be wiped out [by Russia]."
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