Russian jets fly more missions over Syria than the U.S. and drop unguided bombs that kill civilians indiscriminately and “intimidate” the rebels, a retired U.S. Air Force officer says. The Washington Times wrote.
The vast majority of Russian airstrikes in Syria are hitting rebels opposed to the Bashar Assad regime — not Islamic State terrorists — and, like the Syrian president’s forces, often make no effort to avoid hitting civilians, a study says.
Meanwhile, a former U.S. Air Force officer who commanded fighter wings tells The Washington Times that the Russian campaign is “very definitely effective” because it has given new life to the beleaguered Syrian armed forces and to Mr. Assad himself.
“Russia means business,” said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney. He said the Russians are flying more missions over Syria than the U.S. and are dropping unguided bombs that kill civilians indiscriminately and “intimidate” the rebels.
In a sign of unhappiness with more careful U.S. targeting, some members of Iraq’s parliament are so impressed by Russia’s air power that they want its strike jets to hit terrorists in Iraq.
The target assessment comes from the Institute for the Study of War. Citing on-the-ground reports from a multitude of sources, the Washington-based think tank says Russian jet fighters and helicopter gunships fly only a smattering of missions against the Islamic State’s terrorist army, the prime objective of the U.S.-led coalition’s year-old air campaign in Syria and Iraq.
The war institute lends credence to the Pentagon’s assertions that from the moment Russia started its bombing runs in Syria on Sept. 30, the real objective of President Vladimir Putin has been to destroy U.S.-backed rebel groups in a direct challenge to President Obama’s Syria strategy.
The think tank’s report, “Russian Air Strikes in Syria,” states that the Russians’ target list is coordinated with Syrian ground forces attempting to move into rebel strongholds in the northwestern regions around the key city of Aleppo.
“The Russian air campaign in Syria increases the Assad regime’s asymmetric capabilities against the Syrian opposition,” the war institute says. “Like the Assad regime, Russia is likely willing to inflict heavy civilian casualties in the process.”