President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia suddenly escalated the stakes in his contest with the West over influence in the Middle East on Wednesday, as Russian pilots carried out their first airstrikes in Syria. Russian warplanes dropped bombs near the central city of Homs, according to American officials in Washington, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make a public statement. Moscow informed American officials in advance, they said. The attack came hours after Mr. Putin pushed a measure through the upper house of Parliament approving the use of Russian military forces abroad. Read more http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/world/europe/russia-airstrikes-syria.html?_r=0
