President Obama commented Friday that Russia’s bombing campaign in Syria is driving moderate opposition underground and “only strengthening” the terror group Islamic State (IS). So, what are the Russians really doing in Syria and why? Are they bombing Islamic State, or just saying they are?

This video, from Britain’s Channel 4 News, attempts to answer some of these questions.

From BBC News:

Mr Obama said he rejected the Russian assertion that all armed opponents of the “brutal” Mr Assad were terrorists.

Moscow insists its air strikes – now in their third day – are targeting IS.

But the Syrian opposition and others have suggested non-IS rebels are bearing the brunt of Russian attacks.

“The problem here is Assad and the brutality that he’s inflicted on the Syrian people, and it has to stop,” Mr Obama said at a White House news conference.

“We’re not going to co-operate with a Russian campaign to destroy anyone who is disgusted and fed up with Assad.”

He added: “From their [Russia’s] perspective, they’re all terrorists. And that’s a recipe for disaster.”

–Posted by Roisin Davis

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#airstrike#assad regime#barack obama#bomb#islamic state#russia#syria#terrorism#vladimir putin#war