Summary

  • Russia carries out air strikes in Syria

  • Strikes reportedly in rebel-controlled areas of Homs and Hama provinces

  • Russian defence officials say they targeted Islamic State militants

  • But activists say none of the areas hit were controlled by IS

  1. 'Mission creep?'published at 16:23 British Summer Time 30 September 2015

    Debate is raging on social media about Russia's actions.

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  2. Russian air strikes 'a holy battle'published at 16:18

    The Kremlin's decision to carry out air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria has won the backing of Russia's powerful Orthodox Church. 

    Church spokesman Vsevolod Chaplin, quoted by Interfax news agency, said: 

    Quote Message

    The fight with terrorism is a holy battle and today our country is perhaps the most active force in the world fighting it.

  3. US fearspublished at 16.10

    The BBC's Middle East Correspondent tweets...

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  4. Battered Homspublished at 16:09

    Damaged buildings and a minaret in central Syrian town of Talbisseh in Homs provinceImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Talbisseh in Homs province is reported to be among the places targeted by Russian warplanes. It has already been badly damaged by fighting.

  5. Query over Russia's targetspublished at 16:04

    Russia’s decision to intervene with its air power greatly complicates the Syrian crisis while probably offering little additional chance of a diplomatic resolution, writes the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. 

    Quote Message

    There are serious questions about who exactly the Russian aircraft are targeting. US officials believe that the initial Russian strikes are not in IS-held territory raising the possibility that Russian air power is being utilised more in the form of close air support for Syrian Government forces against the multiple enemies of the Assad regime.

  6. Lavrov: 'Strikes target IS positions'published at 15.47

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has just addressed the UN Security Council meeting on counter terrorism about Moscow's action. He said:

    Quote Message

    On the 30th of September, in response to a letter by the President of Syria, the President of Russia asked and received the consent of the council of federation for the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in the Syrian arab republic. We are referring here exclusively to operation of the Russian air force to carry out strikes against ISIL (IS) positions in Syria. We have informed the authorities of the United States and other members of the coalition created by the Americans of this and are ready to forge standing channels of communication to ensure maximum effective fight against terrorist groups.

  7. 'Children among 33 dead' in Homs strikepublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 30 September 2015

    The Syria Civil Defence rescue organisation, which co-ordinates about 2,000 volunteer search and rescue workers in rebel-held areas, tweets:

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  8. Satellite image of Russia's military build uppublished at 15.41

    Signs of Russia's military build up in Syria were caught on satellite image several days ago. This image from Stratfor, a geopolitical intelligence and advisory firm in Texas, identified at least 16 Russian combat aircraft at the airbase outside Latakia on 20 September.

    Satellite image of air base near Latakia on 20 September 2015Image source, AFP
  9. IS 'dens' attackedpublished at 15.34

    Syria's official Sana news agency quotes a military official as saying the Russian air force carried out strikes targeting "the dens" of Islamic State in Rastan, Talbiseh, Zafaraneh, Tulul al-Humr, Aydun, Deir Ful and Salamiya. They were direct hits and caused big losses among IS ranks, Sana reports.

  10. Map of control in Syriapublished at 15.32

    Here is a handy map showing where the government and various rebel groups currently have control in Syria. As you can see, Russia has presence around Latakia to the west. 

    Map
  11. Putin: 'Our actions will be limited'published at 15:18 British Summer Time 30 September 2015

    More from President Putin. He told the Rossiya 24 news channel that Russia's action would be limited and only involve air power:

    Quote Message

    We naturally do not intend to take a headlong plunge into this conflict. Our actions will be carried out within a rigidly set framework. First, we will be supporting the Syrian Army exclusively in its legitimate fight precisely against terrorist groups. Second, support will be provided from the air, without engagement in ground operations. Third, such support will be limited in time to the duration of offensive operations by the Syrian Army.

  12. AFP told of towns hit by strikespublished at 15.09

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  13. 'Russian strikes on five towns'published at 15.07

    Syria's opposition activist network, the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), external, has accused Russian war planes of being behind air strikes on five towns north of Homs - Zafaraneh, Rastan, Talbiseh, Makarmia and Ghanto - resulting in the deaths of 36 people, including five children.

    The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights earlier reported that at least 27 people, including six children, had died in the same area.

    The LCC says local people noted increases in the intensity of the explosions. Rebel fighters monitoring radio communications heard Russian being spoken by pilots.

    Activists stated that none of the areas targeted were controlled by Islamic State and that there were dozens of civilian casualties.

  14. Syrian opposition 'condemns' Russian actionpublished at 15.00

    Khaled Khoja, president of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, said he condemns "Russia's military aggression in Syria":

    Quote Message

    Russia is not fighting Isil (IS). It is using its military force to support the Assad regime's war against civilians. It risks implicating itself in war crimes. The international community should condemn Russia and take urgent action to protect Syrian civilians through the enforcement of a ban on aerial bombardment.

  15. Signs of discord?published at 14.57

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  16. Kerry 'complains to Lavrov' over strikespublished at 14.50

    The US appears to be unhappy with Russia's decision to launch air strikes. One official told the AFP news agency that Secretary of State John Kerry has complained to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, saying the move "runs counter to their stated efforts of deconfliction and is not helpful to that effort".

  17. Russian military in Syriapublished at 14.49

    Russian-made helicopter hovers over Latakia airport in the government-controlled coastal Syrian city on September 24, 2015Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    There has been a build up of Russian military hardware in Syria in recent weeks. Much of it, like this helicopter, is based near the city of Latakia.

  18. Putin: 'Assad ready for reforms'published at 14.47

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has been speaking about his action in Syria. He said:  

    Quote Message

    The only correct way to fight international terrorism... is to act pre-emptively, to battle and destroy fighters and terrorists on the territories they have already seized, not to wait for them to come to us.

    He gave hope to the US and its allies who want President Assad to step down as part of any future peace deal for Syria, by saying: 

    Quote Message

    The final and long-term settlement in Syria is possible only on the basis of political reform and dialogue between all the healthy forces in the country. I know that President Assad realises this and is ready for this process. We hope that his will be an active and flexible position, and that he will be ready for compromise for the sake of his country and his people.