Putin says Russia will help Syria if US launches strikes

Putin said that Russia is already helping Syria with weapons and cooperating in the economic and humanitarian spheres.

According to Sydney Morning Herald, the Russian president said that the country may resume deliveries of advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria if US president Barack Obama carries through on his threat to attack selected targets to punish Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad for allegedly using chemical weapons.

Obama had earlier held an unscheduled meeting with Putin, questioning US evidence that the Syrian government was behind the chemical weapons attack.

The report said that Russia has blocked action at the United Nations to authorise a military attack against Syria and Obama is seeking to rally support among US allies, however, so far only France has indicated willingness to go along with an armed response.

Obama said that if a ban on chemical weapons use is to be upheld, then an international response is required which will not come through Security Council action, the report added.