The Kremlin on Thursday said it welcomed British air strikes against Islamic State jihadists in Syria but argued they lacked a legal basis and called for a broader coalition.
“We continue to welcome any action aimed at fighting terrorism, at fighting the Islamic State,” Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. “We of course consider that if these actions are coordinated and if everybody acts as part of a single coalition, effectiveness can be significantly increased.” Britain joined the US-led bombing campaign over Syria on Thursday, hitting what its defence ministry said was an oil field held by Islamic State jihadists just hours after a decisive parliamentary vote authorised air strikes.