Vladimir Putin ramps up war on ISIS by sending more jets to Syria

Moscow is also expected to open a second air base in the war-torn country – two months after first launching air strikes against ISIS militants.

The al-Shayrat air base near the city of Homs is already home to Russian attack helicopters and around 60 soldiers.

Officials reportedly brought new equipment to the hub – which boasts around 45 plane hangars – last month to prepare for its opening.

Each hangar is "fortified in a way that prevents any damage" if jihadists target the base, according to a military insider.

He added: "It also has a main runway and a three-kilometre backup runway that engineering teams are working to prepare."

Putin has escalated the war on ISIS since fanatics reportedly downed a Russian jet in Egypt last month.

The Metrojet airliner is thought to have been blown apart over the Sinai desert by a homemade bomb.

All 224 people on board were killed – mostly Russian holidaymakers returning from the sunny resort.Yesterday Putin claimed Turkey shot down a Moscow fighter jet last week to protect its oil trade with ISIS.

The Su-24 bomber was downed on November 24 after apparently entering Turkish airspace – a claim Russian officials have denied.

And the Russian president said he has "every reason to believe" Turkey wanted to secure illegal oil deliveries.

(dailystar.co.uk)