Four Russian warships in the Caspian Sea launched 26 rockets at Islamic State in Syria which hit their targets, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and President Vladimir Putin said in a joint television appearance on Wednesday.
Russia started its air campaign in Syria saying it would target militant group Islamic State. But its planes have also bombed other rebel groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Moscow’s ally.
Western countries, Arab states and Turkey, who are waging their own bombing campaign against Islamic State but also want Assad to leave power, say Moscow is using Islamic State as a pretext to target Assad’s other foes.
