Russia, Syria launch coordinated military attack on Assad opponents

Washington (CNN)Russia and the embattled Syrian regime launched coordinated attacks on Islamist factions in numerous towns in Hama and Idlib provinces in western Syria on Wednesday, with Syrian shelling being conducted in apparent concert with Russian airstrikes, according to an opposition observatory.

If the report is correct, it would mark a new level of cooperation between Russia and the Syrian government, and offer fresh evidence that Russia's primary goal is propping up the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad rather than fighting regional terrorism.

But, even as its warplanes conducted fresh strikes, Russia said it was willing to cooperate with the United States in carrying out attacks in Syria.

Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Wednesday his country was prepared to take information and intelligence obtained by the U.S-led coalition against ISIS, and called on all sides to share targeting reconnaissance.

A ministry spokesman, quoted by Russia's TASS news agency, said the ministry responded to a request by the Pentagon. It then "swiftly considered" the U.S. proposals to coordinate.

"We just need to specify some technical details that will be discussed today by representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry and the Pentagon at the expert level," Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov told TASS.

Meanwhile, the Russian assault in Syria continued unabated.

Russian warplanes conducted heavy air strikes on Islamist factions Wednesday, accompanied by shelling from government forces, according to the UK-based anti-Assad Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The head and primary force of the observatory said there were no ISIS position in the areas targeted -- and that fierce clashes were taking place on the ground between regime forces and their allies and armed Islamist rebel factions, including the Ahrar al-Sham and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front.

Wednesday's clashes are the fiercest in the last month, the observatory said.

'Substantial military buildup'

The developments came a day after NATO's secretary general expressed alarm over how the Russian military had grown on several fronts in Syria, including boots on the ground.

"So we have seen a substantial military buildup by Russia in Syria, both in the air with the combat planes and air defense systems, but also an increasing number of ground troops," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. "In addition to that, they have deployed naval assets, a large number of naval assets close to the Syrian shores. And they continue to do so."

Russian planes have also incurred into Turkish airspace twice, he said.

"It's unacceptable, it's dangerous, and it's reckless behavior and it adds to the tensions," Stoltenberg told CNN.

'Russia is not targeting ISIL'

Stoltenberg said he doubted Russia, which has been conducting airstrikes in Syria, was interested primarily in fighting the terrorist group ISIS, also known as ISIL.

"I'm also concerned that Russia is not targeting ISIL but instead attacking the Syrian opposition and civilians," he said.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg condemns Russia's incursion into Turkish airspace.

The Pentagon shares the same worries.

The latest U.S. assessment indicates Russia has moved ground combat weapons and troops to operate them into areas of western Syria where anti-regime forces are, according to two American defense officials. The United States sees the move as Russia "stepping up its ground activity" in Syria to attack those forces, rather than ISIS elements, according to one of the officials.

But Russian officials deny ramping up military activity. Officials quoted by state media said there would be no ground operation in Syria and -- in contrast to what officials had said earlier -- Russia would try to prevent any "volunteers" from going to Syria.