UNITED NATIONS (AP) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would have “grave concerns” if Russia used its airstrikes in Syria to support President Bashar Assad against groups other than Islamic State or al-Qaida.
Kerry spoke as Russia launched its first airstrikes in Syria targeting what it said were Islamic State positions. U.S. officials and others cast doubt on that claim, saying the Russians appeared to be attacking opposition groups fighting Syrian government forces. On Wednesday, some U.S.-backed rebel groups claimed they were hit by Russian airstrikes but those claims could not be confirmed.
At the White House, presidential spokesman Josh Earnest also expressed concern over the Russia’s actions.
“We are seeing the Russians ramp up their support for President Assad,” Earnest said. “They’ve been supporting him for quite some time. It’s clear they’ve made a significant military investment now in further propping him up.”
Earnest said the new action “calls into question their strategy, because when President Putin and President Obama had the opportunity to meet at the U.N. earlier this week much of their discussion was focused on the need for a political transition inside Syria.”