Assad hails Russian airstrikes as the only way to save region

Russia said Sunday it has “intensified” airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, while embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad hailed the Russian attacks as the only way to save the Middle East from terrorism.

Syrian activists continued to assert that these recent air raids by Russian aircraft are hitting rebel factions other than the Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIS, according to media reports.

Assad, in his first remarks since the Russian airstrikes began Wednesday, told Iran’s Khabar TV that the U. S.- led coalition to fight the Islamic State will only spark more instability in his country. He also accused Western nations of fueling a massive exodus of Syrians that, added to migrants fleeing other countries, has created the largest crisis in Europe since World War II.

Assad said the Russian air campaign could succeed because it is supported by Iran and has international, if not Western, support.

“It must succeed or we are facing the destruction of a whole region,” he said, according to the Associated Press.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday that it struck Islamic State command posts, training camps and ammunition depots, flying 20 sorties in a single day.

Still, most sites listed in the Russian attacks are in central and western Syria, while the Islamic State largely occupies areas in the east. The defense ministry said one recent mission was against an Islamic State training camp near Raqqa, the militant group’s de facto capital in Syria.

President Obama criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday for failing to distinguish his airstrikes against Islamic State extremists and moderate Sunni opposition forces seeking to oust Assad. The U. S., France, Turkey, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Britain issued a statement condemning the airstrikes.

SANA VIA EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY Syrian President Bashar Assad praised Russian airstrikes Sunday.