Russia ‘intensifies strikes’ on ISIS in Syria

The White House said on Monday it has seen "some intensification" of Russian air strikes against ISIS in Syria during the past several weeks.

Previously, Russia had infrequently targeted ISIS in its campaign in Syria, said White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes.

Maps of Russian airstrikes prepared by the British government show that, at least as of a week ago, there has been little change in Moscow's practice of targeting non-ISIS areas in Syria with its airstrikes, Reuters has reported.

The vast majority of Russian airstrikes have targeted areas contested by U.S.-backed rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad, while relatively few have hit ISIS territory in Raqqah, Dayr az Zawr, and east of Aleppo, according to the maps.