Obama Calls on Russia to Focus on Islamic State Group

President Barack Obama says Russia needs to make a strategic decision to go after the Islamic State group, not the moderate opposition forces trying to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad.

He says initial military operations by Russia did not add to efforts to deter IS, and in some ways, strengthened it.

Obama says he told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent conversation that he needs to target those who killed Russian citizens. He says Russia has not officially committed to a transition that would move Assad out of power, but has agreed to a political transition process.

Obama commented Sunday at the close of a summit in Malaysia.

In the wake of the Paris terror attacks, Obama will host French President Francois Hollande at the White House on Tuesday.