Russia escalated its military action in Syria today with a wave of airstrikes and naval bombardment co-ordinated for the first time with an assault by Syrian ground troops.
The attacks on rebel strongholds in former heartlands of President Assad’s regime represent the first time that Russian military power has provided air cover for ground troops since Moscow intervened in the Syrian civil war last week.
President Putin confirmed the new tactic in a television interview. “[Russian efforts] will be synchronised with the actions of the Syrian army on the ground and the actions of our air force will effectively support the offensive operation of the Syrian army,” he said.
Observers on the ground noted the involvement of Iran in the ground attacks, with Hezbollah militias