Russian air strikes in Syria are killing civilians to shore up Assad, UK Defence Secretary claims

Michael Fallon said intelligence suggested that only one in 20 Russian attacks are hitting Isis

By Lizzie Dearden for the Independent, Oct 3, 2015

The vast majority of Russian air strikes are not targeting Isis in Syria and are instead aimed at “shoring up” President Bashar al-Assad, the UK Defence Secretary has claimed.

Michael Fallon said Ministry of Defence intelligence suggested that only one in 20 of the attacks so far hit Isis targets and that civilians and rebels battling both Islamists and the regime had been killed.

“We're analysing where the strikes are going every morning. The vast majority are not against IS (Islamic State) at all,” he said in an interview with the Sun.

“Our evidence indicates they are dropping unguided munitions in civilian areas, killing civilians, and they are dropping them against the Free Syrian forces fighting Assad.

“He's shoring up Assad and perpetuating the suffering.”

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