Syria's army goes on the offensive as U.S. bombs Assad's foes

BEIRUT (Reuters) - As U.S. warplanes bomb his enemies in Syria's east, President Bashar al-Assad has set loose his own forces in the west, alarming Washington's few friends on the ground and potentially undermining the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State.

U.S. President Barack Obama says Washington's goal in Syria is to defeat Islamic State without helping Assad's government. The Arab allies that have joined the U.S.-led strikes are some of Assad's fiercest opponents.