Syria sees Russia game changer, US-trained rebels enter fray

Syria predicted Sept. 20 that Russia's growing military role will prove a game changer in the fight against jihadists, as 75 rebels trained under a beleaguered US programme entered the fray.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, by contrast, said Moscow's support for the regime in Damascus only risked sending more extremists to conflict-wracked Syria and could further hamper peace efforts to end the country's years-long civil war.
 
"More important than the supply of arms to Syria is Russia's participation in the fight against Daesh and (Al-Qaeda franchise) Al-Nusra Front," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadist group.
 
Muallem, quoted by Syrian media in an interview with Russia Today television, said Moscow's increased role would "show up America's lack of a clear strategy" against the jihadists.
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin has provided vital support to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad throughout the armed revolt against the Damascus regime that erupted in 2011.
 
Moscow argues that any military support is in line with existing defence contracts, but reports have surfaced this month of secret deployments to Syria, where Russia has a naval facility.
 
Washington, which has led an international coalition carrying out air strikes against ISIL in both Syria and neighbouring Iraq over the past year, has repeatedly warned Moscow that bolstering Assad will only make the situation worse.
         
A US-backed rebel faction and a monitoring group said Sunday that 75 Syrian rebels trained to fight jihadists under a beleaguered American programme have crossed into northern Syria from Turkey.
 
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