Russia preparing 'large-scale' airstrikes on Syria as Americans vote

Russia has threatened to launch “large-scale” cruise missile and airstrikes on Aleppo to coincide with the US election, according to media reports from Moscow.

The strikes, predicted in the 24 hours from Tuesday morning, would be targeted at the outskirts of the city where rebel groups have been seeking to break the Assad regime’s siege of opposition-held eastern districts.

If she is elected, Hillary Clinton is generally expected to adopt a tougher stance towards Russia than the Obama administration, and Putin is widely seen as narrowing her room for manoeuvre by crippling the Syrian opposition militarily before she arrives in office.