Members of the US-led coalition tasked with combatting Islamic State (IS), have said that Russian air strikes in Syria are targeting not just IS, but anti-Assad forces, and are killing civilians. The coalition have called for strikes to cease, expressing their concern that the attacks will boost IS recruitment.
Russian Sukhoi jets
Vladimir Putin's air force began air strikes on Wednesday, launching fresh attacks on Friday, and a senior official reported that they could last for three to four months.
While Russia says it is targeting Islamic State, it has been suggested that non-IS rebel groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, one of Putin's close allies, are bearing the brunt of the attacks.
According to the Syrian military, Russia has carried out a total of 18 air strikes since Thursday evening, many of which occurred in provinces with little IS presence.
During an air strike in Aleppo, communications towers belonging to the Free Syrian Army - who have received American training and who oppose Assad - were destroyed.
In a joint declaration issued on October 1st, the coalition, which includes the governments of France, Germany, the UK and United States, expressed their "deep concern" about Russian military build-up in Syria, "especially the attacks by the Russian Air Force on Hama, Homs and Idlib since yesterday which led to civilian casualties."
The coalition warned that Russian involvemet could create resentment and boost IS recruitment: "These military actions constitute a further escalation and will only fuel more extremism and radicalization."
The coalition called on the Russian Federation to cease attacks on the Syrian opposition and instead focus its efforts of fighting IS.