Russia Preparing To Launch Air Strikes Against The Islamic State 'With Or Without U.S.'

Russian jets in Syria. The Aviationist

Sydney Morning Herald/Bloomberg: Putin preparing to strike Islamic State 'with or without US'

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin, determined to strengthen his country's only military outpost in the Middle East, is preparing to launch unilateral airstrikes against Islamic State from inside Syria if the US rejects his proposal to join forces, two people familiar with the matter said.

Mr Putin's preferred course of action, though, is for the US and its allies to agree to coordinate their campaign against IS with Russia, Iran and the Syrian army, which the Obama administration has so far resisted, according to a person close to the Kremlin and an adviser to the Defence Ministry in Moscow.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Moscow for talks with Mr Putin on Monday, followed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.

WNU Editor: This is what I call cornering the U.S. in a lose-lose situation. Cooperating with Russia on launching air strikes will make past U.S. efforts to isolate Russia look "amateurish and petty". Not cooperating with Russia in coordinating air strikes against the Islamic State will raise questions from U.S. allies in the region on "what is the U.S. doing?"

More News On Reports That Russia is Preparing To Launch Air Strikes Against The Islamic State 'With Or Without US'

Putin plans air strikes in Syria if no U.S. deal reached - Bloomberg --Reuters
Will Russia go it alone in Syria? Putin 'will start bombing ISIS if US won't work with him' -- Mirror
Report: Putin Considering Unilateral Airstrikes Against ISIS -- Arutz Sheva
Russian Airstrikes in Syria Could Begin Soon -- CNS
Bloomberg: Russia may bomb out IS without US consent -- Pravda