Russian jets attack Syrian terrorist hub

The attack from Russia to the city of Homs in Syria that came on Wednesday targeted the Islamic State. Homs, the northern part of Syria, houses a number of rebel groups affiliated with hardline Islamist militia Al-Qaeda, such as Al Nusra Front and Ahrar al Sham.

However, Syrian opposition activists and some U.S. officials said otherwise. According to reports from Los Angeles Times, areas hit by the attack belong to other rebel groups in Syria, and not to the Islamic State. One of the groups hit by the attack is the Free Syrian Army, a loose grouping that received aid from the U.S. and its allies.

According to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the U.S. will not object the Russian attacks on Al Qaeda and Islamic State groups but would show “grave concerns” if other rebel groups will also be targeted and included in the attack.

Russia has warned the U.S. of its intentions before it launched the attacks. It has requested the U.S. embassy in Baghdad to avoid the Russian flying missions in Syrian airspace that was launched Wednesday.

Both the U.S. and Russia have expressed interest and concern over Syria albeit different means. The Obama administration has called for the resignation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Russia supports to keep the Assad administration in power through providing military aid.

While Russia has made its intentions clear, counter-terrorism officials in the U.S. are worried that the Russian action will unify local military groups and energise recruitment in the Caucasus, North Africa and the Middle East. There is also a huge possibility that militants would set aside their differences to fight against common enemies -- the Assad government and the Russians.

The attack on Syria came two days after the meeting between Russian President Vlamidir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama about coordinating efforts against the Islamic State. Russia’s action on Wednesday was interpreted by the U.S. government as rebuking the talks.

Syrian media, however, reported that the Russian attacks came at the request of the Syrian government.

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