Cartoon of terrorists and moderate terrorists
"Jets believed to be Russian hit an outpost run by moderate rebel forces in northwestern Syria near a major border crossing with Turkey, killing at least one fighter and wounding several people," Reuters reported on Sunday, obviously referring to Saudi and Turkish-backed jihadists who are designated terrorists — even in Germany.

According to Reuters, Russian airstrikes targeted "Babeska, a village in Idlib province that has become a haven for several moderate Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups, mainly Jaish al Islam".

So Jaish al Islam is a "moderate FSA" group hanging out in Idlib?

That's nice — aside from the fact that it's 100% not true on all counts:

Jaysh al-Islam wikipedia

So: They're not part of the Free Syrian Army and they want to create an "Islamic State under Sharia Law", using Saudi money. Sounds like a "moderate" slam dunk to us.


Comment: 5 facts about Jaysh al-Islam, group that used chem weapons in Syria & has delegate at UN peace talks


It gets better, though. Remember how Reuters said the attack was in Idlib province? Again, our friend Wikipedia:
wikipedia jaysh al-Islam
Ahrar al-Sham enjoys backing from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and is one of the largest rebel factions in Syria. The group is considered a terrorist organization by Russia, Syria, Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.


Comment: U.S.-backed "not terrorist" group Ahrar al-Sham commits massacre in Zarah, slaughters women and children


But this is how the Associated Press described Ahrar al-Sham, after two of its members were arrested in Germany and changed with terrorism:
Prosecutors said 24-year-old Kamel T.H.J. and 22-year-old Azad R. allegedly fought with the ultra-conservative Ahrar al-Sham against other rebel groups and Syrian government troops in the Aleppo area from at least August 2013 until April 2014, when the younger man was injured.
Ultra-conservative. We have now evolved into the realm of "ultra-conservative moderate rebels". Unfortunately, Russia still just calls them "terrorists" — and bombs them.

Earlier this week, Ahrar al-Sham took a few shots at a Russian helicopter — and then awarded themselves medals for their heroic deed.

Russia has now returned the favor.