US says 85-90% of Russian strikes in Syria target moderate rebels

4 November 2015, 6:42 pm

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A top US diplomat says that between 85 to 90 percent of Russian air strikes in war-torn Syria have targeted moderate Syrian rebels, according to Reuters.

This is contrary to Russian statements that its air campaign was aimed at mainly combating the Islamic State terror group which control large swaths of land in Syria and Iraq.

During a congressional committee session, Anne Patterson, the assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, said the Obama administration was looking into ways to “intensify” the battle against IS.

“The president is looking at a number of other efforts to intensify our efforts in this battle,” she is quoted as saying.