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White House calls Russian air strikes in Syria "indiscriminate"

Xinhua, October 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

White House on Thursday called the Russian air strikes in Syria "indiscriminate", and it risks prolonging the sectarian conflict in the the country.

"The fact is carrying out indiscriminate military operations against the Syrian opposition is dangerous for Russia," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on a daily press conference, "it also risks Russia being drawn even more deeply into that conflict."

The Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its air forces carried out 20 sorties during the first round of airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, hitting eight targets, including a command center.

Skeptical about Russia's intention in Syria, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday: "We would have grave concerns should Russia strike areas where ISIL and al-Qaida-affiliated targets are not operating."

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Wednesday that Russia's military operations targeted only IS targets.

"The way that Russia has carried out these indiscriminate strikes against the Syrian opposition has also further isolated Russia," Earnest said. Enditem