France dismissed Russian suggestions on Friday its air strikes against oil installations in Syria were illegal, saying they were “an appropriate and necessary riposte” to attacks by Islamic State.
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Russian state TV on Friday showed Russian air force ground crew writing “For Ours!” and “For Paris!” on bombs being attached to Russian warplanes.
Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu said 18 long-range missiles were launched on seven IS targets in the Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo provinces on 20 November.
Shoigu said the strikes this week inflicted significant casualties on the IS, including more than 600 militants killed in just one strike in the province of Deir el-Zour.
Putin has vowed to increase Russia’s military campaign again ISIS in Syria after it was confirmed that the Metrojet airliner that crashed in Sinai, killing all 224 passengers, was brought down by ISIS.
Paris also launched air strikes against ISIS’s Syrian stronghold in Raqqa this week, following attacks that killed 130 people in the French capital.
Earlier this week Russian Federation released video of hundreds of IS petrol trucks being destroyed in an air strike.
While doubts remain about whether the USA would work with Russia, there have been some tentative signs of a shift in Washington, with President Obama praising Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a “constructive partner” in diplomatic efforts to end the Syrian war.
“As Bashar al-Assad and Islamic State are equal priority enemies for them, they inflict damage to both of them by such hits”.
AFP reports that flights to and from Erbil and Sulaimaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan were temporarily suspended beginning Monday due to Russian cruise missiles crossing the airspace.
Lebanon said Friday it was preparing to re-route flights from Beirut airport after Russian Federation requested they avoid an area over the eastern Mediterranean because of three days of military manoeuvres.
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The Russian aviation grouping comprises more than 50 aircraft and helicopters, including the Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-24M bombers, Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-30SM fighters and Mil Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters.
