Syrian foreign minister says airstrikes will not defeat IS
Syria's foreign minister said Friday that airstrikes alone will not be successful against the Islamic State group unless they are coordinated with the Syrian government, as the international community scrambled to respond to Russia's new airstrikes in his country.
Addressing the summit of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly, Walid al-Moallem said Russia's decision to start bombing targets was based on the request of the Syrian government and is effective because it supports Syria's efforts to combat terrorism.
He pledged to continue the war against "terror" while also committing to a political track to end Syria's civil war, now in its fifth year.
Al-Moallem announced Syria will participate in UN-led working groups toward a 3rd round of peace talks in Geneva.
