In its first major military operation in the Middle East since 1941, Russia launched airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday night and Thursday morning to hit “terrorist facilities” in Idlib, Hama and Homs. “Russian air force planes have commenced air operations with surgical strikes against identified [ISIS] ground targets,” said Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman, General Igor Konshenkov on Wednesday. Moscow asserted the airstrikes were targeting ISIS militant positions in Syria, including a bomb and ammunition factory, but the United States and rebel groups in Syria quickly disputed these claims. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that the Russian warplanes were not in areas with ISIS forces. “The result of this kind of action will probably be to inflame the civil war in Syria,” Carter said, adding that Russia’s actions are like “pouring gasoline on a fire.” John McCain, head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also claimed that the airstrikes hit CIA-trained Free Syrian Army recruits. “I can absolutely confirm to you that there were airstrikes against our Free Syrian Army recruits that have been armed and trained by the CIA,” McCain told CNN. Many analysts also view Russia’s military involvement…
