Russia says bomb downed its jetliner, intensifies airstrikes in Syria
MOSCOW — Russia said for the first time on Tuesday that a bomb aboard a Russian charter jet full of vacationers had destroyed the aircraft that crashed more than two weeks ago on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, and the Kremlin responded immediately by escalating airstrikes across Syria.
The Russians said they were coordinating their military campaign with France in sharply ratcheting up attacks on Syrian territory, especially areas held by the Islamic State, the militant group that has asserted responsibility for destroying the Russian jetliner and for the deadly attacks across Paris on Friday.
Russia said it had deployed cruise missiles, long-range bombers flying from Russia and other warplanes, releasing the details through a military briefing for President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu televised live nationwide.
“A massive airstrike is targeting ISIL sites in Syrian territory,” Shoigu said, using one of the acronyms for the Islamic State. “The number of sorties has been doubled, which makes it possible to deliver powerful pinpoint strikes upon ISIL fighters all throughout the Syrian territory.”
Russia acknowledged that a bomb downed the Metrojet Airbus A321, killing all 224 people aboard, after 17 days of hedging, even though it was increasingly clear that Russian investigators had reached that conclusion.
The timing of such a highly orchestrated announcement, after an outraged France had already started striking Islamic State targets and had called for a united front against the group, suggested that the Kremlin was using the moment to help rebuild relations with the West.
Egyptian officials have asserted that it was premature to conclude that a bomb had destroyed the Russian jetliner. But Egypt’s position has become harder to maintain as the Russian government gave indications that it believed a bomb was the most likely cause.
Russia also offered $50 million for any information leading to the capture of the bomb plotters.