Putin meets Obama in New York.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday clung to his foreign policy in Syria in spite of a more assertive Russia continuing with its raids in the warn-torn country for the third day.

Obama, who was speaking in a press conference on Syria, said the U.S. is “clear on sticking to” its policy in Syria, citing President Bashar al-Assad as the “problem.”

“No amount of U.S. military engagement will solve political problems,” he asserted.

He also warned Assad’s allies Russia and Iran that they will be “struck quagmire if they prop up” the embattled Syrian leader.

Russia’s military engagement in Syria in support of Assad is a “recipe for disaster,” Obama added. However, he said Washington could still work with Moscow on reducing tensions.

Obama also condemned Russia’s policy in Syria, saying it is “driving moderate opposition underground” and “strengthening” Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Putin “doesn’t distinguish between ISIL and a moderate Sunni opposition that wants to see Mr Assad go,” Obama told reporters, using another acronym for ISIS.

“From their perspective. They’re all terrorists, and that’s a recipe for disaster,” he said.

Initially Russia was criticized for not targeting ISIS in Syria but areas held by more moderate rebels. However Russian jets struck ISIS targets on Friday as it continued with its raids on the third day of its intervention in the war-torn country.

“Six strikes were conducted on targets of the ISIS terrorist group in 14 flights by Sukhoi Su-34, Sukhoi Su-24M and Sukhoi Su-25 jets,” the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

He also said Putin had to go into Syria out of “weakness,” and that the U.S. has “the rest of the world” as an ally as oppose to Russia which as Assad and Iran only.