Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War

Russia is engaged in "classic asymmetric warfare" in Syria by using its military clout to prop up President Bashar al-Assad while saying it is attacking Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants, Britain's foreign minister said on Oct.4. 

British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Oct.4 that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's decision to take military action in Syria to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was a "terrible mistake". 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Russia to end air strikes in Syria, accusing Moscow of targeting the opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

US President Barack Obama warned Friday that Russia?s military engagement in Syria in support of strongman Bashar al-Assad is a "recipe for disaster," though Washington could still work with Moscow on reducing tensions.
 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has questioned Russia's motives in its airstrikes in Syria.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu on Oct.2 accused Russia of targeting moderate Syrian rebels in its air strikes in Syria to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey and its partners in the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State "called on Russia on Friday to cease its attacks on the Syrian opposition."

Reuters is reporting they instead want the Russian Air Force "to focus on fighting Islamist militants."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said only with the help of Russia could Syria's civil war be brought to an end.

"For years we have known there can be a solution only with the help of Russia," Der Spiegel quotes her as saying on in a Thursday speech.

Hundreds of Iranian forces arrived in Syria ten days ago with weapons to take part in ground operations, Reuters reported, quoting "a Lebanese source."

The agency said that the Iranian troops and Hezbollah will join a ground offensive against Islamic State, that will be supported from the air by Russian planes.

Russia continues carrying out heavy airstrikes in Syria escalating its military engagement in Syria. Some activists, though, claimed that the targets did not include only IS militants but other groups and opponents of the Syrian government.