KW:

“I am fair with blue eyes, so they often confused me with Russians and affectionately greeted me. Syrians believe in Russia because for a long time they were in conflict with the US and some European powers and Russia was the only friendly power.” “I was there when Russia entered the war in September 2015 and Syrians did not perceive it as an intervention, but as support and a sign of solidarity,” Fernandez explained.  “For over a year before that the US had led an international coalition that didn’t show any results. The Americans carried out bombings but Daesh spread even further, and seized new positions.” “Those airstrikes were not coordinated and often hit Syrian infrastructure, hospitals and schools. The Russian airstrikes didn’t, because they entered the war at the request of Damascus and their activities were coordinated in order to be effective and not bring harm to civilians.”

During the first 30 days of bombings the Russians were ab;e to destroy 40% of Daesh’s infrastructure which the US and its allies hadn’t been able to do in a year.

For almost a year Miguel Fernandez was the only journalist from the Western world accredited to work in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and on his return to Havana gave Sputnik Mundo an exclusive interview about his experiences.

Source: My Year in Syria: Cuban Journalist Gives Sputnik Exclusive Interview