Sputnik News Agency
MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE
20:49 01.10.2015(updated 20:52 01.10.2015)
Russia has conducted its first airstrike against ISIL militants in Syria. The Russian Ministry of Defense says the operation took place in the Arab republic’s third largest city of Homs, which is a central link between the interior cities and the Mediterranean coast.
The operation came hours after the Russian Parliament approved the use of the country’s armed forces abroad.
Sukhoi 25 Rooks jets
© SPUTNIK/ VITALIY ANKOV
Russian Military Fully Coordinating Activity With Syrian Army - Damascus
According to Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov, the decision was made after Syrian President Bashar Assad requested military assistance from Moscow in the fight against terrorism.
While speaking to journalists on Wednesday morning, Ivanov also added that the move does not foresee any ground troop operations.
Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria have recently created an information center in Baghdad in order to coordinate the fight against Islamic State. The new center would begin operations in October or November.
Mahdi Nazemroaya, an Award-winning author, sociologist and geopolitical analyst, spoke to Sputnik in an exclusive interview about the new center in Baghdad.
“Russia is very serious about fighting ISIL. This isn’t just for Syria or Iraq, it’s for regional security and it has broader international implications. ISIL has made it clear that it’s going to march to other places in the world and it is also a threat to the Russian Federation, specifically the North Caucasus. So this move is to stabilize the region and to keep the Syrian state intact,” Nazemroaya said.
He also went on to explain that this is very different from what the US is doing. He said that ISIL’s strength has not declined under the US’ bombing, nothing has been happening. The move that has been made by Russia, Iranians and the center in Baghdad show that now there will be real action taking place in the Middle East.
“Russia’s actions are absolutely intended to bring stability to Syria. It is vital to note that Russia wants to see Syria intact. It does not want to see Syria as a failed state. It wants to see a sovereign state’s government in place and all the institutions in place, which is the opposite of what the United States has done.”
Russian EMERCOM plane with humanitarian aid for the people of Syria arrives to Latakia Airport in Syria
© SPUTNIK/ ANDREY STENIN
Under Pressure: US Bullies Iraq to Close Airspace to Russian Aid Flights to Syria
Nazemroaya recalled the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the US and Britain when they illegally invaded Iraq and the first thing they did was ‘destroy the state’. “They destroyed its institutions and the chaos in Iraq and the rise of ISIL are linked to this.”
The analyst further noted, “The Iranians are also involved in this as they have extended support to the Syrian government. They want to keep Syria intact. They have been providing Syria with military, economic and humanitarian support to Syria. They have extended diplomatic support at various foreign forums as well.”
He also said that China is also interested in neutralizing the ISIL force. "The US bombing campaign has done nothing in the fight against ISIL. It is clear that the US and Turkey have been helping ISIL."
The analyst further explained how the US has been facilitating ISIL’s actions and why it hasn’t put a stop to their rise when it could.
Syria has been in a state of civil war since March 2011. The country’s army has been fighting various extremist groups, such as the Nusra Front and Islamic State. In mid-2014 the US started an airstrike campaign against ISIL in both Iraq and Syria within the framework of an international coalition.
Posted By: Yaiqab Saint
Thursday, October 1st 2015 at 2:45PM
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