Russia’s Foreign Minister:
Lavrov on targets in Syria: “If it looks like a terrorist, if it acts like a terrorist, it is a terrorist”
“We are not planning to expand our airstrikes in Iraq…We are polite people, we don’t come if not invited.”
Russia says first military contact with US over Syria airstrikes will take place “very, very soon.”
Russia, in response, says they are not planning air strikes in Iraq, according to Lavrov.
Assad allies, Iranian troops prepare ground attack in Syria
WashingtonTimes: Iran has sent hundreds of troops to Syria over the last 10 days that will soon join government forces and Hezbollah allies in a major ground offensive accompanied by Russian airstrikes, two Lebanese sources familiar with the matter said.
“The (Russian) airstrikes will in the near future be accompanied by ground advances by the Syrian army and its allies,” one of the sources told Reuters.
The sources said it is possible the ground operations will be focused in the Idlib and Hama countryside regions and that operations would be aimed at recapturing territory lost by embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government to rebels.
If true, the operations point to an emerging military alliance between Russia and Mr. Assad’s other main allies — Iran and Hezbollah.
So far, Iranian military support for Mr. Assad’s regime has mostly come in the form of military advisers and the mobilization of Shi’ite militia fighters.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has been fighting alongside the Syrian army since early in the conflict.
“The vanguard of Iranian ground forces began arriving in Syria: soldiers and officers specifically to participate in this battle. They are not advisors … we mean hundreds with equipment and weapons. They will be followed by more,” the second source told Reuters. Iraqis would also take part in the operation, the source said.
The Russian air force on Wednesday began airstrikes, targeting areas near the cities of Homs and Hamas in the western region of Syria. Moscow had claimed it would conduct strikes against the Islamic State militant group, but the terrorist organization does not operate in the bombed region, anti-Assad forces do.
The move drew harsh criticism from the U.S. and other western powers, with U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter likening Russia’s move to “pouring gasoline on the fire” in Syria.
State John Kerry calling for swift military talks to coordinate efforts.
Tensions rising, US and Russian military holding Syria talks
The Pentagon says it’s beginning talks with the Russian military on ways to avoid US and Russian forces firing on each other in Syria.
Thursday’s talks — being held by video teleconference — come a day after Russian fighter jets began bombing in western Syria and with US-Russian tensions growing.
Conducting the talks on the US side are Elissa Slotkin, the acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, and Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe, the director of strategic plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
It’s not immediately clear who will be speaking for the Russians.
