Vladimir Putin ‘given green light to use Russian military force in Syria’

Vladimir Putin has been given permission by Russian Parliament to use military abroad, widely believed to be Syria. The Kremlin did not say which country the decision would apply to, but Russia is in the process of building up its military presence in Syria. President Putin supports the government forces of President Bashar al-Assad. The last time the Russian parliament granted Mr Putin the right to deploy troops abroad, a technical requirement under Russian law, Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine last year.

It is about Syria.

Sergei Ivanov, the head of the Kremlin administration

Permission for military action does not relate to troops on the ground but the use of the air force, Russian officials say. The Kremlin said the request was for “the deployment of a military contingent of the Russian Federation” outside the country on the basis of the “universally recognised principles and norms of international law.” Mr Putin and US president Barack Obama clashed earlier this week at the UN on how best to tackle the war in Syria and the threat of Islamic State.

Politics Putin Syria