Chicago, October 1 (RHC)-- The reason that the United States has failed to “wipe out” Daesh (ISIL) terrorists in Syria is that its warplanes have never targeted the Takfiri group, an American political commentator says. “Why haven’t they wiped out by America,” asked Stephen Lendman, author and radio host in Chicago, “because America hasn’t targeted them so far.”

Lendman made the remarks in a phone interview with Press TV on Wednesday, shortly after Russia conducted its first airstrikes against ISIL targets near the city of Homs. “The Russian campaign against ISIS has begun and what concerns Washington is they want to protect ISIS on the ground, Russia wants them eliminated,” the analyst observed, using an alternative acronym for the terrorist group, which is operating in Syria and Iraq.

“For the first time in many years, America is on the back foot, a very uncomfortable feeling for the people in Washington,” Lendman noted. “Russia has taken the initiative. We have to wait and see what this leads to.”

Russia started the air campaign after the upper house of its parliament gave President Vladimir Putin approval to use the air force in Syria.