Talking to journalists gathered at the Pentagon, the US command has blamed “brutal dictatorship” for the human suffering in Syria, claiming that the Russian op has only caused further “tremendous damage” – yet again offering no proof to back the assertions.

“Let’s be clear: the human suffering on the ground [in Syria] is the result of the Assad regime’s brutal dictatorship,” Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson Colonel Steven Warren stated in his opening remarks, speaking via video link from Baghdad.