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| Syria crisis: Russian air strikes 'not hitting IS areas' | Syria crisis: Russian air strikes 'not hitting IS areas' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The US and Nato have expressed concern that the first Russian air strikes in Syria have not targeted the Islamic State group, their stated aim. | The US and Nato have expressed concern that the first Russian air strikes in Syria have not targeted the Islamic State group, their stated aim. |
| Russian defence officials said their aircraft had carried out about 20 missions against IS. | Russian defence officials said their aircraft had carried out about 20 missions against IS. |
| But US officials said they were concerned that the raids had hit non-IS opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia's ally. | But US officials said they were concerned that the raids had hit non-IS opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia's ally. |
| Nato said there had been little co-ordination with US-led anti-IS forces. | Nato said there had been little co-ordination with US-led anti-IS forces. |
| The day's events as they happened | The day's events as they happened |
| Syria's civil war has raged for four years, with an array of armed groups fighting to overthrow the government. | Syria's civil war has raged for four years, with an array of armed groups fighting to overthrow the government. |
| The US and its allies have insisted that President Assad should leave office, while Russia has backed him remaining in power. | The US and its allies have insisted that President Assad should leave office, while Russia has backed him remaining in power. |
| Wednesday's Russian air strikes reportedly hit rebel-controlled areas of Homs and Hama provinces, causing casualties. The US says it was informed an hour before they took place. | Wednesday's Russian air strikes reportedly hit rebel-controlled areas of Homs and Hama provinces, causing casualties. The US says it was informed an hour before they took place. |
| The Russian defence ministry said the country's air force had targeted IS military equipment, communication facilities, arms depots, ammunition and fuel supplies - and did not hit civilian infrastructure or areas nearby. | The Russian defence ministry said the country's air force had targeted IS military equipment, communication facilities, arms depots, ammunition and fuel supplies - and did not hit civilian infrastructure or areas nearby. |
| Syrian opposition activists said Russian warplanes had hit towns including Zafaraneh, Rastan and Talbiseh, resulting in the deaths of 36 people, a number of them children. | Syrian opposition activists said Russian warplanes had hit towns including Zafaraneh, Rastan and Talbiseh, resulting in the deaths of 36 people, a number of them children. |
| None of the areas targeted were controlled by IS, activists said. | None of the areas targeted were controlled by IS, activists said. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would not object to Russian military action in Syria - as long as it was directed against IS and groups linked to al-Qaeda. | US Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would not object to Russian military action in Syria - as long as it was directed against IS and groups linked to al-Qaeda. |
| Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, Mr Kerry said it would be a "grave concern" if Russia conducted strikes against other groups. | Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, Mr Kerry said it would be a "grave concern" if Russia conducted strikes against other groups. |
| He said the US-led coalition against IS would "dramatically accelerate our efforts" and that the US was prepared to hold talks with Russia about avoiding accidental conflicts between the two air strike campaigns "as early as possible". | He said the US-led coalition against IS would "dramatically accelerate our efforts" and that the US was prepared to hold talks with Russia about avoiding accidental conflicts between the two air strike campaigns "as early as possible". |
| US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter went further, saying: "It does appear they [the Russian strikes] were in in areas where there probably were not Isil [IS] forces." | US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter went further, saying: "It does appear they [the Russian strikes] were in in areas where there probably were not Isil [IS] forces." |
| He added: "By supporting Assad and seemingly taking on everyone who is fighting Assad, you're taking on the whole rest of the country of Syria. | He added: "By supporting Assad and seemingly taking on everyone who is fighting Assad, you're taking on the whole rest of the country of Syria. |
| "At least some parts of the anti-Assad opposition belong in the political transition going forward. That's why the Russian approach is doomed to fail." | "At least some parts of the anti-Assad opposition belong in the political transition going forward. That's why the Russian approach is doomed to fail." |
| Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he was concerned by reports that the Russian air strikes were not targeted against IS. | |
| "I'm especially concerned because there has been no real effort by the Russian side to deconflict the Russian air strikes in Syria with the ongoing US-led coalition fighting Isil [IS]." | |
| Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, defence and diplomatic correspondent | Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, defence and diplomatic correspondent |
| Russia's decision to intervene with its air power greatly complicates the Syrian crisis while probably offering little additional chance of a diplomatic resolution. | Russia's decision to intervene with its air power greatly complicates the Syrian crisis while probably offering little additional chance of a diplomatic resolution. |
| Russian sources indicate that Sukhoi Su-24 warplanes were involved, operating out of an airbase near Latakia. | Russian sources indicate that Sukhoi Su-24 warplanes were involved, operating out of an airbase near Latakia. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Of course, many of these enemies are supported by the West's Arab allies or Turkey. The warning time given by the Russians to the Americans announcing the start of their operations may also raise some eyebrows, suggesting that much more detailed co-ordination may be needed in future to avoid incidents in Syrian airspace. | Of course, many of these enemies are supported by the West's Arab allies or Turkey. The warning time given by the Russians to the Americans announcing the start of their operations may also raise some eyebrows, suggesting that much more detailed co-ordination may be needed in future to avoid incidents in Syrian airspace. |
| Syria's civil war explained | Syria's civil war explained |
| Diplomatic goals behind Putin's Syria build-up | Diplomatic goals behind Putin's Syria build-up |
| The battle for Syria and Iraq in maps | The battle for Syria and Iraq in maps |
| Ahead of the air strikes, the upper house of the Russian parliament granted President Vladimir Putin permission to deploy the Russian air force in Syria. | Ahead of the air strikes, the upper house of the Russian parliament granted President Vladimir Putin permission to deploy the Russian air force in Syria. |
| In a televised address, Mr Putin said the air strikes were targeting Islamist militants - including Russian citizens - who have taken over large parts of Syria and Iraq. | In a televised address, Mr Putin said the air strikes were targeting Islamist militants - including Russian citizens - who have taken over large parts of Syria and Iraq. |
| "If they [militants] succeed in Syria, they will return to their home country, and they will come to Russia, too," he said. | "If they [militants] succeed in Syria, they will return to their home country, and they will come to Russia, too," he said. |
| He added that Russia was not going to send ground troops to Syria, and that its role in Syrian army operations would be limited. | He added that Russia was not going to send ground troops to Syria, and that its role in Syrian army operations would be limited. |
| "We certainly are not going to plunge head-on into this conflict... we will be supporting the Syrian army purely in its legitimate fight with terrorist groups." | "We certainly are not going to plunge head-on into this conflict... we will be supporting the Syrian army purely in its legitimate fight with terrorist groups." |
| Mr Putin also said he expected President Assad to talk with the Syrian opposition about a political settlement, but clarified that he was referring to what he described as "healthy'' opposition groups. | Mr Putin also said he expected President Assad to talk with the Syrian opposition about a political settlement, but clarified that he was referring to what he described as "healthy'' opposition groups. |
| Syria's civil war | Syria's civil war |
| What's the human cost? | What's the human cost? |
| More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured in four-and-a-half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war. | More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured in four-and-a-half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war. |
| And the survivors? | And the survivors? |
| More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes, four million of them abroad, as forces loyal to President Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from IS and other groups. Growing numbers of refugees are going to Europe. | More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes, four million of them abroad, as forces loyal to President Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from IS and other groups. Growing numbers of refugees are going to Europe. |
| How has the world reacted? | How has the world reacted? |
| Regional and world powers have also been drawn into the conflict. Iran and Russia, along with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, are propping up the Alawite-led government. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are backing the Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. | Regional and world powers have also been drawn into the conflict. Iran and Russia, along with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, are propping up the Alawite-led government. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are backing the Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |