The head of the FSB, Aleksandr Bortnikov, said the homemade bomb had the explosive power of one kilogram of TNT, according to the Kremlin. Egypt quickly rejected the conclusion, claiming there was no proof of it whatsoever.
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A group linked to IS had earlier claimed responsibility for downing the plane, and Russian Federation had halted all flights to Egypt despite refusing to endorse growing suspicions in the United Kingdom and the U.S. that the plane was blown up by a bomb. “We will find them in any place on earth and punish them”, he said.
Putin said Russian Federation would be relentless in hunting down those responsible for the attack. “That the stance that the real battle with Islamic State can only be resolved once the fate of Assad is clear, that this position will put to one side”, said Lavrov.
What he means: Russian Federation is no less a target and victim of Islamist militancy than Western countries, and nothing in the state’s conduct at home or overseas can justify attacks. In a single raid on Monday, USA planes destroyed 115 civilian fuel trucks allegedly running supplies for ISIS.
“Air attacks are great, but, at the same, if you don’t have good targets on the ground, it doesn’t do much in terms of destabilizing the enemy”, said Panetta.
Secretary of State John Kerry has voiced hopes in recent weeks that Russian Federation and Iran, Mr. Assad’s closest allies, will agree to a political transition in Damascus that excludes the Syrian dictator, provided their security and economic interests are respected.
“I do believe we should be together in this fight”.
Russian Federation is attempting to leverage the Paris attacks and the impact of its military escalation to make overtures to France.
Putin instructed his military to work out a joint Russian-French action plan against IS militants as he pushes the idea of establishing a broad anti-IS coalition that would involve both Russia and the West.
Moscow ordered a Russian missile cruiser to patrol jointly with French ships in the eastern Mediterranean Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
The Kremlin added that the two leaders will meet on November 26, when Hollande is expected to visit Moscow.
USA officials have also softened their rhetoric toward Russian Federation, citing the stepped up strikes by Moscow against ISIS.
“We’re going to wait and see whether in fact Russian Federation does end up devoting more attention to targets that are ISIL targets, and if it does so that’s something we welcome”, Obama said this morning while traveling in the Philippines.
Egyptian authorities have declined to comment on what caused the crash, saying a multi-national investigation is still underway.
Metrojet, the airline operating the Airbus A321-200, made a similar argument at a news conference shortly after the crash, drawing a swift warning from Russian officials to “abstain from premature statements”.
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“In the central part of the country, as a result of the offensive by government troops and militia contingents, it has become possible to take Khadat under control and block the militants in Maheen”, he said, referring to a town southeast of Sadad.
