Cotton Statement on Reports of Russia’s First Airstrikes in Syria

Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement on reports of Russia's first airstrikes in Syria:

"Putin's defense of the Butcher of Damascus has begun. This is not an offensive to defeat ISIS, but a naked effort by one dictator to protect another and crush moderate Syrian opposition forces. Putin has this opening because of the absence of any U.S. strategy in Syria. The U.S. must reject Russia's interference and rally our partners to do the same."