US: Over 90% of Russian strikes in Syria not targeting IS, Al-Qaeda

WASHINGTON—A large majority of Russia’s military strikes in Syria have not been aimed at the Islamic State group or jihadists tied to al-Qaeda, and have instead targeted the moderate Syrian opposition, the State Department said on Wednesday.

“Greater than 90 percent of the strikes that we’ve seen them take to date have not been against ISIL or al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby.

It was the first time that American authorities have offered any specific figures about the impact of Russian air strikes in the war-torn country.