Reuters: Russia sending more warplanes to Syria as world anger grows over 'barbarous' strikes
Russia is sending more warplanes to Syria to further ramp up its campaign of air strikes, a Russian newspaper reported on Friday, as Moscow defied global censure over an escalation that Western countries say has torpedoed diplomacy.
In a statement issued by the White House after the two leaders spoke by telephone, U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the Russian and Syrian bombing of Aleppo as "barbarous".
Fighting intensified a week into a new Russian-backed government offensive to capture all of Syria's largest city and crush the last remaining urban stronghold of the rebellion.
Moscow and its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, spurned a ceasefire this month to launch the offensive, potentially the biggest and most decisive battle in the Syrian civil war which is now in its sixth year.
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WNU Editor: What's my take .... after one year the momentum of the war has shifted in Syria to favour the regime. Has Russia helped in achieving this .... definitely. But while the regime and its allies are winning the battlefields, winning the war is still a long way off. And even if rebel strongholds in Aleppo and elsewhere fall, this conflict is far from over ... something that Moscow itself has conceded will take time with no guarantee of success. What's my prediction .... Russian media and the Kremlin are boasting of success .... but what I see is a quagmire, and I would not be surprise if Russia slowly starts to disengage from Syria at the beginning of next year.
More News On Russia Passing The One Year Mark of Fighting The War In Syria
Russia fighting in Syria for a year, still at odds with US -- Salon/AP
Russia says it will continue with air strikes in Syria -- IBTimes
Year passes since Russian military operation in Syria -- Vestnik Kavkaza
Kremlin says no time frame for Russia's military operation in Syria -- Reuters
Russia 'Killed Close to 10000' After Year in Syria: Monitor -- Newsweek
Monitor: Over 9,000 killed in Russia’s air campaign in Syria -- RUDAW
Russia dismisses Syria campaign death toll allegation -- AFP
Russia Rejects John Kerry’s Demands on Syria, Accusing U.S. of Promoting Terror -- NYT
US protecting Syria jihadist group - Russia's Lavrov -- BBC
With Limited Means and One Year Russia Achieved More in Syria Than US and Allies -- Sputnik
A year of Russian anti-ISIS ops in Syria: 5 key milestones -- RT
How Putin's high-risk Syria gamble is paying off -- Oleg Kashin, The Guardian
Putin is making a mistake in Syria — and Russia will pay the price -- Philip Gordon, Washington Post
Key dates since Russian intervention in Syria -- AFP
