Russia, Capitalizing on Terror Threat, Pursues ‘Aggressive’ Military Posture Abroad

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Free Beacon:

Russia is deploying more military assets abroad and mobilizing its proxies as the world focuses on the threat posed by the Islamic State, according to reports, raising concerns that Moscow could end its international isolation and strengthen its force posture amid the global fight against terrorism.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Tuesday that a bomb, likely planted by Islamic State militants, had brought down a Russian airliner over Egypt last month, killing all 224 passengers and crew. Putin, who had initially resisted calling the plane crash a terrorist attack, waited until after the Islamic State attacks last week in Paris to make the announcement.

 

In apparent retaliation for the Russian airliner attack, Russian forces are reported to have launched dozens of air- and sea-based missile strikes this week at Islamic State strongholds in Syrian provinces ar-Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour. French jet fighters have escalated their strikes against the terrorist group in Raqqa, while President Francois Hollande, who will meet with President Obama next week in Washington and with Putin in Moscow, called for “a single coalition” to defeat the militants. Putin has also told his naval forces to work with the French as “allies.”