Russia Considers Launching Unilateral Airstrikes Against IS in Syria – Bloomberg

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) attends a military training exercise at the Donguz firing range in the Orenburg region, Russia, 19 September 2015. Photo: EPA

According to an article published in Bloomberg on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering to launch unilateral airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) from inside Syria if the US rejects his proposal for joint military action.

However Putin expressed preference for a joint action between Russia, Iran, the Syrian army and the US-led international coalition.

According to reports, Putin has proposed to the US a “parallel track” of joint military action coupled with a political transition away from the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

So far US President Barack Obama has resisted joint action, but the proposal for sidelining Assad might bring a change to his policy.

This proposal will be discussed during the one-day trip of Putin to New York for the UN General Assembly on September 28 when the Russian president and his US counterpart are expected to meet.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that the US has become “more receptive to Moscow's position”.

Russia has recently increased its military presence in the region by deploying fighter jets and hundreds of servicemen to an airfield near the port city of Latakia.

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