Russia, France Anti-ISIS Fight: After Paris Attacks, Russian Missile Cruiser To Assist French Navy Against Islamic State

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a large missile cruiser to help the French Navy in its latest effort to combat the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, according to Sputnik News. Since Friday’s attacks in Paris, France has declared war against the terrorist group.

The Russian cruiser Moskva is currently stationed in the Mediterranean Sea and set to contact a French naval group when it arrives in the area. "It is necessary to establish direct contact with the French and work with them as allies,” Putin said.

That announcement came the same day Russia and France launched air strikes in Syria against ISIS, according to Reuters. ISIS also claimed responsibility for downing a Russian jet in October. After the Paris attacks, which left at least 129 dead and hundreds more wounded, France launched its first wave of anti-ISIS airstrikes in Syria on Saturday.

France's airstrikes on Tuesday were the second round since the Paris attacks. French President François Hollande has said he wants new laws that would make it easier to deport suspected terrorists and extend France’s state of emergency.

Hollande has also asked that 5,000 new paramilitary police force positions be added, insisting he wouldn’t propose any cuts to defense spending for at least another four years, CNN reported.

Some 115,000 security officers have been mobilized by France since Friday’s attacks, and the French government plans to conduct more than 120 more raids on suspected militants, the BBC reported. The government already conducted more than 160 raids Monday. Next week, Hollande is expected to meet with U.S. and Russian leaders.

"We are not committed to a war of civilizations, because these assassins don't represent any civilization," Hollande said.