US defence chief warns Russia has 'losing strategy' in Syria

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said Monday that Russia is pursuing a "losing strategy" in Syria and that it must live up to its commitments in Ukraine. Speaking in Madrid at the start of a five-day trip to Europe, Carter told Spanish military officials that by carrying out bombing in Syria, Russia had only worsened the four-year conflict. Russia last week started air strikes in Syria, claiming it was hitting Islamic State jihadists.