ISIS news: Russian forces in Syria feared to end up aiding terror group, report says
A new report claims that deployed Russian troops in Syria might become helpers to the Islamic State forces since the soldiers were sent to areas where they are most likely to start bouts with other terror groups opposed to ISIS.
According to The Guardian, U.S. officials said the Royal United Services Institute report is released before a U.S.-Russian summit meeting held at the U.N. on Monday. During the summit, U.S. president Barack Obama is expected to question Vladimir Putin on Russia's intention when it deepened its military involvement in Syria.
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, who is also in New York for the U.N. general assembly meeting, denied allegations that his country was cooperating with Russia to battle the ISIS. "I do not see a coalition between Iran and Russia on fighting terrorism in Syria," he said.
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Russian strategic analyst Igor Sutyagin said 28 planes have been deployed as part of an air regiment in Latakia, including a battalion of motorized infantry and military engineers. A marine battalion has also been assigned in Tartarus' naval base.
Sutyagin argued that the Russian troops assigned in areas where ISIS forces are not present is a way to back Assad in high fight against groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham, which are groups known to be opposed to the extremists. "If Russian troops do eventually join combat, therefore, they would also — technically — be assisting ISIS," Sutyagin said.
The report further suggested that Russia's decision is not a policy change toward fighting the jihadists directly but should be considered as a "largely political move" planned to lend a hand to Assad, as well as ensure Russia's control over its Tartarus naval base and its new air base in Latakia.
Meanwhile, the White House National Security Council's senior director for Russia, Celeste Wallander, said the time has come for Russia to "come clear — come clean," noting that Obama would be hitting on Putin until he reveals his true objectives in Syria.
