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| Russia begins airstrikes in Syria areas 'belonging to terrorists' – live updates | Russia begins airstrikes in Syria areas 'belonging to terrorists' – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.47pm BST16:47 | |
| The state of Syria as yet another military force begins to fight. | |
| Updated at 4.50pm BST | |
| 4.40pm BST16:40 | |
| Syria’s official news agency has identified strike locations and claimed that Russia is targeting Isis in cooperation with the SAF, my colleague Kareem Shaheen (@kshaheen) reports from Beirut. | |
| They identified the locations of the airstrikes as Rastan, Talbiseh, Zaafaran, the Red Mountains, Aidoun, Deir Foul and the surroundings of Salamieh, all in the central region of Syria (Homs and Hama provinces). | |
| They claimed the attacks scored direct hits and killed and wounded militants. | |
| Ironically, though they said the Russians targeted Isis, later in the announcement they said Talbiseh includes several terrorist factions including Jabhat al Nusra, Ahrar al Sham and others, but did not mention Isis. | |
| Syrian ambassador to Moscow hails start of Russian air operations in his country - the beating heart of Arabism. | |
| 4.31pm BST16:31 | |
| Russia warned Israel that it would begin military action in its neighbor to the north-west, my colleague Peter Beaumont (@petersbeaumont) reports from Jerusalem. | |
| An hour before the first strikes Russia contacted Yossi Cohen, the national security adviser to Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu to warn Russian jets would be bombing targets in Syria. The warning falls in accordance with a ‘deconfliction’ agreement between the Kremlin and Netanyahu, meant to avoid clashes. | |
| Despite the agreement with Putin, following a recent meeting between Putin and Netanyahu in Moscow, Israel has been concerned over the potential for clashes while watching warily a Russian military build up it fears will limit its room for action in Syria where it has launched a number of air and artillery strikes as the conflict has come closer. | |
| Updated at 4.36pm BST | |
| 4.23pm BST16:23 | |
| Action against the “appalling terrorist death cult outfit” of Isis is “all to the good,” UK prime minister David Cameron has said about Russia’s military strikes in Syria. | |
| He has a caveat, though, allowing that he does not yet know what the Kremlin is up to as it bolsters Bashar al-Assad. | |
| “We will need to look very carefully at exactly what has happened. I have a clear view that if this is a part of international action against Isil, that appalling terrorist death cult outfit, then that is all to the good. | |
| “If, on the other hand, this is action against the Free Syrian Army in support of Assad the dictator, then obviously that is a retrograde step but let us see exactly what has happened.” | |
| Updated at 4.26pm BST | |
| 4.16pm BST16:16 | 4.16pm BST16:16 |
| This Russian Orthodox Church has blessed the nascent campaign in Syria as “a holy struggle” against terrorism, church spokesman Vsevolod Chaplin has told state news agency Interfax. | This Russian Orthodox Church has blessed the nascent campaign in Syria as “a holy struggle” against terrorism, church spokesman Vsevolod Chaplin has told state news agency Interfax. |
| “The fight against terrorism is a holy struggle, and today our country has become perhaps the most active force in the world that fights against it,” Chaplin said. “Not because Russia has a selfish interest in this, but because terrorism is immoral.” | “The fight against terrorism is a holy struggle, and today our country has become perhaps the most active force in the world that fights against it,” Chaplin said. “Not because Russia has a selfish interest in this, but because terrorism is immoral.” |
| Konstantin Kosachev, of the foreign affairs committee in Russia’s upper house of parliament, has meanwhile told state television that Russia is only interested in fighting terrorists, my colleague Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) reports from Moscow. | Konstantin Kosachev, of the foreign affairs committee in Russia’s upper house of parliament, has meanwhile told state television that Russia is only interested in fighting terrorists, my colleague Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) reports from Moscow. |
| Kosachev said that Russia will “on no account” get involved in the fight between Assad and the opposition, and is only fighting terrorists. Though there is a question, of course, on who exactly Russia regards as terrorists in Syria. | Kosachev said that Russia will “on no account” get involved in the fight between Assad and the opposition, and is only fighting terrorists. Though there is a question, of course, on who exactly Russia regards as terrorists in Syria. |
| 4.11pm BST16:11 | 4.11pm BST16:11 |
| The Guardian’s diplomatic editor Julian Borger (@julianborger) reports from the UN security council meeting, where Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is acting as chair. | The Guardian’s diplomatic editor Julian Borger (@julianborger) reports from the UN security council meeting, where Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is acting as chair. |
| Lavrov said Russia will present a draft resolution based on building up joint counter-terrorist operations “based on international law”. | Lavrov said Russia will present a draft resolution based on building up joint counter-terrorist operations “based on international law”. |
| However, that resolution will face opposition from the US, UK and France if it does not include language on a political transition indicating Assad would be not part of Syria’s future. | However, that resolution will face opposition from the US, UK and France if it does not include language on a political transition indicating Assad would be not part of Syria’s future. |
| UK foreign secretary Philip Hammond has already warned the journalists that the targets of the Russian strikes “will be symbolic. The targets won’t have been selected by accident.” | UK foreign secretary Philip Hammond has already warned the journalists that the targets of the Russian strikes “will be symbolic. The targets won’t have been selected by accident.” |
| “If they have selected a target that is clearly a Isil target away from regime strength, they’ll be sending us a signal that they want this intervention to be seen as a counter-Isil intervention. | “If they have selected a target that is clearly a Isil target away from regime strength, they’ll be sending us a signal that they want this intervention to be seen as a counter-Isil intervention. |
| Hammond added: “If they are in an area there are area where there are heavy regime engagements going on, that will send a much more mixed message. If they’re in an area where there’s no Isil it will send a very clear message that the intervention is there to support Assad.” | Hammond added: “If they are in an area there are area where there are heavy regime engagements going on, that will send a much more mixed message. If they’re in an area where there’s no Isil it will send a very clear message that the intervention is there to support Assad.” |
| In the council meeting, China’s minister for foreign affairs, Wang Yi, has called for a third Geneva conference to negotiate a peace deal, Julian’s report continues. | In the council meeting, China’s minister for foreign affairs, Wang Yi, has called for a third Geneva conference to negotiate a peace deal, Julian’s report continues. |
| Wang Yi has called for a conference “without preconditions”, ie without the West insisting that the end-product must be a Syria without Assad. | Wang Yi has called for a conference “without preconditions”, ie without the West insisting that the end-product must be a Syria without Assad. |
| The first Geneva conference in 2012 agreed there should be a transitional government formed by “mutual consent” of the regime and the opposition. Western powers took this to mean it ruled out Assad who would never get the consent of the opposition. Russia and China dispute that was the implication of the agreement. | The first Geneva conference in 2012 agreed there should be a transitional government formed by “mutual consent” of the regime and the opposition. Western powers took this to mean it ruled out Assad who would never get the consent of the opposition. Russia and China dispute that was the implication of the agreement. |
| Updated at 4.17pm BST | Updated at 4.17pm BST |
| 3.58pm BST15:58 | 3.58pm BST15:58 |
| The Kremlin and its supporters have so far assured Russians that ground soldiers will not take part in the Syrian civil war, with Putin saying this morning that Russia would not “plunge headfirst” into the conflict. | The Kremlin and its supporters have so far assured Russians that ground soldiers will not take part in the Syrian civil war, with Putin saying this morning that Russia would not “plunge headfirst” into the conflict. |
| But who exactly the targets are of Russia’s military campaign remains an open question. Activists and pro-opposition outlets claim that Russian strikes have killed at least 24 people, and other details suggest a strategy well out of sync with the US’s. My colleague Spencer Ackerman writes: | But who exactly the targets are of Russia’s military campaign remains an open question. Activists and pro-opposition outlets claim that Russian strikes have killed at least 24 people, and other details suggest a strategy well out of sync with the US’s. My colleague Spencer Ackerman writes: |
| The apparent geography of the strikes also raises doubts that US and Russian pilots would in fact risk a confrontation. The early reports from the anti-Assad activists in Hama and Homs suggest the strikes occurred further west than the US has ever bombed, deep into territory where the Assad regime still maintains a tenuous hold, and in likely range of its air defences. The US has tended not to strike territory where Isis and Assad actively vie for control. | The apparent geography of the strikes also raises doubts that US and Russian pilots would in fact risk a confrontation. The early reports from the anti-Assad activists in Hama and Homs suggest the strikes occurred further west than the US has ever bombed, deep into territory where the Assad regime still maintains a tenuous hold, and in likely range of its air defences. The US has tended not to strike territory where Isis and Assad actively vie for control. |
| Responding to questions about the strikes, Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev has dissembled slightly, my colleague Shaun Walker notes. | Responding to questions about the strikes, Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev has dissembled slightly, my colleague Shaun Walker notes. |
| Kosachev: "Under no circs will we take part in fight between Assad and opposition, only against terrorists." (But one man's terrorist etc) | Kosachev: "Under no circs will we take part in fight between Assad and opposition, only against terrorists." (But one man's terrorist etc) |
| Updated at 4.03pm BST | Updated at 4.03pm BST |
| 3.48pm BST15:48 | 3.48pm BST15:48 |
| The Free Syrian Army, a rebel group backed by foreign enemies of Assad, has been struck by Russian air strikes in north-west Syria, according to Reuters. | The Free Syrian Army, a rebel group backed by foreign enemies of Assad, has been struck by Russian air strikes in north-west Syria, according to Reuters. |
| The group’s commander said eight fighters were wounded in the countryside of Hama province, where the group has a headquarters. | The group’s commander said eight fighters were wounded in the countryside of Hama province, where the group has a headquarters. |
| “The northern countryside of Hama has no presence of ISIS at all and is under the control of the Free Syrian Army,” Major Jamil al-Saleh, who defected from the Syrian army in 2012, told Reuters via telephone. | “The northern countryside of Hama has no presence of ISIS at all and is under the control of the Free Syrian Army,” Major Jamil al-Saleh, who defected from the Syrian army in 2012, told Reuters via telephone. |
| Saleh said his group had been supplied with advanced anti-tank missiles by foreign powers opposed to Assad. | Saleh said his group had been supplied with advanced anti-tank missiles by foreign powers opposed to Assad. |
| The AFP ‘s Sara Hussein also reports that Hama and nine other locations were hit by Russian air strikes. | The AFP ‘s Sara Hussein also reports that Hama and nine other locations were hit by Russian air strikes. |
| Source tells @AFP areas in #Syria hit by #Russia: Homs: Talbisseh, Rastan; Hama: Latamneh, Kafr Zita; Latakia: Jabal Zweid, Ghmam, Deir Hana | Source tells @AFP areas in #Syria hit by #Russia: Homs: Talbisseh, Rastan; Hama: Latamneh, Kafr Zita; Latakia: Jabal Zweid, Ghmam, Deir Hana |
| 3.37pm BST15:37 | 3.37pm BST15:37 |
| Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Russia’s military intervention into the Syrian civil war, with air strikes nominally against militants but in areas far from US strikes on the extremist group Isis, raising questions about the new campaign’s intentions. | Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Russia’s military intervention into the Syrian civil war, with air strikes nominally against militants but in areas far from US strikes on the extremist group Isis, raising questions about the new campaign’s intentions. |
| President Vladimir Putin decided to bomb Syria in support of his ally, embattled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, after several weeks of amassing troops and aircraft at a naval base in Latakia. Speaking Monday at the UN, Putin called for an international coalition against Isis, and met with US president Barack Obama to discuss possible cooperation in the Middle East. In Moscow on Wednesday, Putin ruled out using ground forces. | President Vladimir Putin decided to bomb Syria in support of his ally, embattled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, after several weeks of amassing troops and aircraft at a naval base in Latakia. Speaking Monday at the UN, Putin called for an international coalition against Isis, and met with US president Barack Obama to discuss possible cooperation in the Middle East. In Moscow on Wednesday, Putin ruled out using ground forces. |
| But the strikes, only hours after Russia’s parliament unanimously approved the use of military force outside, apparently took American officials aback, with one saying the strikes “hardly seem indicative” of “a constructive role” in the four-year conflict, which has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions of people. | But the strikes, only hours after Russia’s parliament unanimously approved the use of military force outside, apparently took American officials aback, with one saying the strikes “hardly seem indicative” of “a constructive role” in the four-year conflict, which has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions of people. |
| The US has led a coalition bombing campaign against Isis in Syria and Iraq for over a year, to apparently marginal effect as Kurdish and Iraqi ground forces have borne the brunt of ground combat. The US and its Gulf allies in the Middle East have said that Assad must step aside for the conflict between his government forces, fractious opposition forces and jihadi militants to have any chance at resolution, but Putin has maintained that Assad can play a part in the country’s future. | The US has led a coalition bombing campaign against Isis in Syria and Iraq for over a year, to apparently marginal effect as Kurdish and Iraqi ground forces have borne the brunt of ground combat. The US and its Gulf allies in the Middle East have said that Assad must step aside for the conflict between his government forces, fractious opposition forces and jihadi militants to have any chance at resolution, but Putin has maintained that Assad can play a part in the country’s future. |