US claims majority of Russian strikes targeting rebels, not ISIS in Syria

More than 90 percent of Russian airstrikes in Syria have targeted Syrian rebels instead of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants, the US State Department has claimed.

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The Guardian quoted US State Department spokesman John Kirby, as saying that the Russian strikes have largely been against opposition groups in the country that do not want Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to remain in power.

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The accusation came as Russia, which says it is going after "terrorist groups", including ISIS, ramped up its bombardments in Syria.

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Meanwhile, Russia said it launched missiles at targets in Syria from warships in the Caspian Sea in the first major combined assault across the air and ground in Moscow's escalating campaign in the war-torn country.

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The missiles were aimed at ISIS targets, according to the Kremlin, The Independent also reported.