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Vladimir Putin is stepping up his military might to secure a key Islamic State stronghold and claim lucrative oil fields, we can reveal.

Intelligence sources say the Russian president is ploughing ahead with plans to mobilise 150,000 reservists in Syria.

And the Soviet’s special forces will look to stave off insurgent attacks by taking control of Raqqa, the extremist group’s de facto Syrian “capital” since 2013.

Read more:Russians obliterate ISIS bomb factory

The city is seen as a vital strategic location if they are to capture oil and gas fields currently under IS control in the ancient city of Palmyra.

However sources claim Russia’s efforts to take control of large swathes of territory in the west of Syria have thrown the Coalition’s long-term operations into disarray.

An insider said: “It is very clear that Russia wants to sweep up the west of the country, taking Raqqa and all the oil and gas resources around Palmyra.

“It would appear they have thought about their action and are moving fast.

“This is fast becoming a race to Raqqa - to secure the oil fields they need to cleanse the region of insurgents and the IS capital is vital to do that.”

Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday accused Putin of killing Syrian civilians to shore up his ally President Assad rather than destroy IS.

(Image: Reuters)

In the strongest attack yet of Putin’s Syrian operation, it has been claimed initial MoD intelligence showed only one in 20 Russian air attacks so far were on targets to damage IS.

He said: “It’s absolutely clear that Russia is not discriminating between Isil and the legitimate Syrian opposition groups and as a result they are actually backing the butcher Assad and helping him and really making the situation worse.

“Rightly they have been condemned across the Arab world for what they have done and I think the Arab world is right about that.

“But we should be using this moment now to try to force forward a comprehensive plan to bring political transition in Syria because that is the answer for bringing peace to the region.”

However Putin’s bombing campaign shows little sign of easing after Russian aircraft hit targets east of Damascus.

(Image: REUTERS)

Sites close to the former Syrian air force base known as T4 have been destroyed as Kremlin commanders fly in resources.

Ammunition has been jetted into the western airbase of Latakia, while land armour has been sent to the port of Tartus.

Hundreds of Spetsnaz troops have been deployed across the west of Syria targeting known IS extremists.

A source said: “The Coalition has managed the situation for a year, but now Moscow has come in and made life difficult for the Coalition forces.

“It’s feared thousands of IS supporters and refugees will pour into the east of the country forcing the war to potentially pour into Iraq as IS flees the Soviets.”

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon also conceded the Kremlin’s surprise actions have made the West’s plans for a no-fly zone or safe haven to protect fleeing refugees a lot harder to implement.

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And sources have now claimed that Putin’s only reason for attacking IS forces was to protect his interests in Latakia and Tartus.

Mr Fallon also revealed he has held face-to-face talks with the King of Jordan about setting up a no-fly zone in southern Syria.

Meanwhile Coalition commanders revealed they would “step up” their offensive in support of Kurdish Peshmerga forces. They have come under constant attack from insurgents in eastern Syria.

General Philip Breedlove, the US commander of forces in Europe, said: “The coalition intends to increase the operational footprint at Incirlik to step up the fight against Islamic State in the coming months.”

A 300-strong US special operations rescue force has flown into southern Turkey ready to recover “downed Coalition pilots”.

A sources said: “America will want to push forward and take Raqqa before the Soviets, but there are huge risks and such a move will require a significant ‘step up; in combat capability from the Coalition”