Russia's First Reported Air Strikes in Syria Assist Regime with Targeting Broader Opposition... Obama failed again!

Russia's First Reported Air Strikes in Syria Assist Regime with Targeting Broader Opposition ISW will continue to provide updates on all of these issues at www.understandingwar.org.   By Genevieve Casagrande An alleged Russian airstrike hit the rebel-held town of Talbisah north of Homs City. Talbisah is home to Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, hardline Islamist Ahrar al-Sham, Western-backed TOW anti-tank missile recipients, and a number of other local rebel groups, all of which are active in local governance efforts in the area. Both Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) have claimed a number of vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs) in Homs City, located only 12 kilometers south of Talbisah. Following reports of U.S. and Turkish efforts to establish an ISIS "free zone" in the northern Aleppo countryside, JN withdrew from the border and reportedly enforced position in this rebel-held pocket north of Homs city. Notably, the airstrike did not hit ISIS militants and rather resulted in the a large number of civilian casualties. If confirmed, the airstrike would signal Russian intent to assist in the Syrian regime's war effort at large, rather than securing the regime's coastal heartland of Latakia and Tartous. Read this post online here ISW will continue to provide updates on all of these issues at www.understandingwar.org. ### The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy research organization. ISW advances an informed understanding of military affairs through reliable research, trusted analysis, and innovative education. We are committed to improving the nation's ability to execute military operations and respond to emerging threats in order to achieve U.S. strategic objectives. Visit us at www.understandingwar.org.