Russia, which began its strikes in Syria at the end of September, has always said its main target is Islamic State.
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An unusually subdued Putin called it “one of the bloodiest crimes”, and promised retribution for “the murder of our people in Sinai”. “This will stay with us forever”, he said.
“The examination showed that all these objects found traces of foreign-made explosives”, Bortnikov said, adding there would be a $50 million reward for information about the organizers of the terrorist attack.
“We’re going to look for them everywhere wherever they are hiding”.
“We will search for them everywhere, no matter where they are hiding”, said Putin during a televised meeting of his security cabinet.
FSB head Alexander Bortnikov said a bomb containing the equivalent of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of TNT went off aboard the Airbus, causing it to break apart in the air, which explains why the fuselage was scattered over such a large territory. “We must do this without any statute of limitations and we must find out all their names”, he said, invoking Russia’s right to self defence under the United Nations charter.
Until now, Russian Federation had played down assertions from Western countries that the October 31 crash was the work of terrorists, saying it was important to let the official investigation run its course. Gerasimov said that over the past 48 days, Russian air force has undertaken 2,289 sorties to carry out 4,111 strikes, destroying 562 control centres, 64 training camps and 54 ammunition plants of the IS targets. “What’s changed is less that France has changed, but that Russian Federation has”, said the official. They admitted that doing so would likely have a crushing impact on the country’s tourism industry.
Shadow Home Office minister Jack Dromey said: “I urge the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister to listen to the most senior figures in the police service who warn that it is not only the security services that are necessary in the fight against the evils of terrorism, but that police and people on the ground are crucial”.
The Prime Minister said that the jihadists – who have claimed responsibility for the bloody wave of assaults in the French capital – represented a “direct and growing threat” to the UK.
Putin ordered the Russian missile cruiser Moskva, now in the Mediterranean, to start cooperating with the French military “as allies” on operations in Syria.
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised Russia’s role in talks to end the Syria crisis and offered the prospect of better ties if Moscow focused military strikes on the Islamic State group.
Obama, who is in Manila to attend the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, also said he welcomed France’s move to step up strikes on Islamic State and that Washington would help its ally.
Syrian targets hit by Russian long-range bombers and cruise missiles on Tuesday included the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa. The militant group Islamic State has positions in Aleppo province, whereas Idlib has the presence of the Nusra militant group. On Tuesday, Putin instructed relevant agencies to establish contacts with the French side, after a phone conversation with president Francois Hollande.
The raids were conducted with coordination of United States, using 10 Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighters.
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Earlier this month, French President François Hollande announced the deployment of the Charles de Gaulle, France’s only aircraft carrier, in the fight against the IS group in Iraq and Syria.
