By — Bradley Klapper, Associated Press Bradley Klapper, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-says-russian-campaign-in-syria-helping-the-islamic-state Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter U.S. says Russian campaign in Syria helping the Islamic State Politics Feb 10, 2016 1:08 PM EDT WASHINGTON — The U.S. says Russia’s counterterrorism campaign in Syria is actually helping the Islamic State. Brett McGurk, the Obama administration’s point-man for defeating the group, says a Russian-backed offensive in northern Syria is targeting rebel fighters who were battling the Islamic State and who now have to face the Syrian military. McGurk tells the House Foreign Affairs Committee, “What Russia’s doing is directly enabling ISIL.” He says Russia is strengthening the Syria’s government, worsening a humanitarian crisis and fueling extremism. McGurk, who will meet Russian and other diplomats at a conference on Syria later this week, called the developments “totally unacceptable.” By — Bradley Klapper, Associated Press Bradley Klapper, Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The U.S. says Russia’s counterterrorism campaign in Syria is actually helping the Islamic State. Brett McGurk, the Obama administration’s point-man for defeating the group, says a Russian-backed offensive in northern Syria is targeting rebel fighters who were battling the Islamic State and who now have to face the Syrian military. McGurk tells the House Foreign Affairs Committee, “What Russia’s doing is directly enabling ISIL.” He says Russia is strengthening the Syria’s government, worsening a humanitarian crisis and fueling extremism. McGurk, who will meet Russian and other diplomats at a conference on Syria later this week, called the developments “totally unacceptable.”