EU: Russian Syria Intervention a 'Game Changer'

EU: Russian Syria Intervention 

a 'Game Changer'

By Heather Sells

CBN News Reporter

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

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European Union nations and others are warning that Russia's military intervention in Syria could have dangerous consequences, with one top EU diplomat calling it a worrying "game changer."

EU foreign ministers are calling on Moscow to center its military action in Syria against ISIS and to avoid moderate opposition targets.

The Russian air campaign which began Sept. 30 has backed moves by Syrian troops against insurgents fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

EU ministers released a statement warning, "This military escalation risks prolonging the conflict, undermining a political process, aggravating the humanitarian situation and increasing radicalization."

The EU ministers also want Russia to coordinate its military action in Syria with the EU and the United States.

Moscow's intervention has infuriated Saudi Arabia, which believes that the Russian air strikes are targeting rebel groups opposed to Assad.

Also, China is warning that the United States and Russia must be careful to avoid the Syrian conflict developing into a full-blown proxy war.  In an editorial in its flagship People's Daily newspaper, it scolded both countries for having an outdated Cold War mindset.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to insist that ISIS poses a major threat which justifies its air campaign in Syria. Arrests in Moscow this week may prove that point.

Russian security officials say they thwarted a planned attack on the Moscow public transportation system. They believe that some of the suspects were trained by Islamic State jihadists.

On Tuesday, insurgents in Syria fired two shells at the Russian embassy in Damascus. The attack came as hundreds of Syrian government supporters rallied outside the embassy compound to thank Moscow for intervening in Syria.

Watch CBN report here: Putin and Russia