Russia to expand Syria Air Strikes: Mission Creep or Strategy?
Christof Lehmann (nsnbc) :
Russian Air Force jets have flown over 60 sorties since the onset of the
Russian campaign against ISIL in Syria on Wednesday. The campaign has
dislodged ISIL and al-Qaeda associated terrorist brigades. Kyrgyz
President Almazbek Atambayev expressed his support for Russia. French
President Francois Hollande accused Russia of having become a
conflicting party due to its support of Syrian President Al-Assad. The
Russian initiative is consistent with countering long-term NATO plans
aimed at destabilizing the Russian Federation’s underbelly.
Russian Air Force jets have flown over 60 sorties since the onset of the
Russian campaign against ISIL in Syria on Wednesday. The campaign has
dislodged ISIL and al-Qaeda associated terrorist brigades. Kyrgyz
President Almazbek Atambayev expressed his support for Russia. French
President Francois Hollande accused Russia of having become a
conflicting party due to its support of Syrian President Al-Assad. The
Russian initiative is consistent with countering long-term NATO plans
aimed at destabilizing the Russian Federation’s underbelly.
On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, Russia began launching air strikes against ISIL targetsin Syria. As of Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that
there had been flown over 60 sorties, bombing 50 facilities of the
Islamic State. Col Gen Andrey Kartapolov of the General Staff told
reporters on Saturday that:
“The aircraft have been taking off
from the Hmeimim air base, targeting the whole Syria. … In the past
three days we have managed to disrupt the terrorists’ infrastructure and
to substantially degrade their combat capabilities. … Intelligence
reports say that militants are leaving the areas under their control. …
There is panic and desertion among their ranks. … Nearly 600 mercenaries
have abandoned their positions and are making attempts to get out to
Europe.”
