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| Syria conflict: Russia strikes 'will fuel extremism' | Syria conflict: Russia strikes 'will fuel extremism' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Members of the US-led coalition against Islamic State have called on Russia to cease air strikes they say are hitting the Syrian opposition and civilians. | Members of the US-led coalition against Islamic State have called on Russia to cease air strikes they say are hitting the Syrian opposition and civilians. |
| In a joint statement on Friday, the US, UK, Turkey and other coalition members said Russian strikes would "only fuel more extremism". | In a joint statement on Friday, the US, UK, Turkey and other coalition members said Russian strikes would "only fuel more extremism". |
| Russia, which according to witnesses launched fresh strikes on Friday, says it is targeting IS. | Russia, which according to witnesses launched fresh strikes on Friday, says it is targeting IS. |
| A senior Russian official says strikes could last for three to four months. | A senior Russian official says strikes could last for three to four months. |
| Alexei Pushkov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia's parliament, added that the US had only "pretended" to bomb IS and promised that Russia's campaign would be much more effective. | Alexei Pushkov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia's parliament, added that the US had only "pretended" to bomb IS and promised that Russia's campaign would be much more effective. |
| The Russian Air Force began air strikes in Syria on Wednesday. | The Russian Air Force began air strikes in Syria on Wednesday. |
| The Syrian military says that Russia carried out a total of 18 air strikes since Thursday evening. It said that several of these were in Hama and Idlib, provinces with little Islamic State presence. | |
| The Russian Defence Ministry said it had attacked the IS stronghold of Raqqa on Thursday. Activists report that at least a dozen IS fighters had been killed there. | |
| The strikes in Syria are Russia's first military engagement outside the borders of the former Soviet Union since the end of the Cold War. | |
| Russian air strikes - in depth | |
| Where key countries stand - Who is backing whom | |
| Why? What? How? - Five things you need to know about Russia's involvement | |
| What can Russia's air force do? - The US-led coalition has failed to destroy IS. Can Russia do any better? | |
| Media offensive - What does the campaign look like through the lens of Russian media? | |
| Inside an air strike - Activist describes 'frightening Rusian air strike' | |
| The warning from members of the US-led coalition came as the French and Russian presidents met in Paris. The meeting was called to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine, but these are expected to be overshadowed by Syria. | |
| The Syrian opposition and others have suggested rebel factions opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - the Kremlin's ally - are bearing the brunt of the Russian attacks. | The Syrian opposition and others have suggested rebel factions opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - the Kremlin's ally - are bearing the brunt of the Russian attacks. |
| French President Francois Hollande, using an Arabic acronym for IS, said it was important that "the strikes, regardless of who is carrying them out, target Daesh and not other groups". | French President Francois Hollande, using an Arabic acronym for IS, said it was important that "the strikes, regardless of who is carrying them out, target Daesh and not other groups". |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking at the UN in New York, said Russia would also fight other terrorist groups including the al-Nusra Front - an al-Qaeda affiliate. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking at the UN in New York, said Russia would also fight other terrorist groups including the al-Nusra Front - an al-Qaeda affiliate. |
| He said this position was the same as that of the US-led coalition which has been carrying out air strikes in Iraq and Syria for the past year. | He said this position was the same as that of the US-led coalition which has been carrying out air strikes in Iraq and Syria for the past year. |
| "We are not supporting anyone against their own people. We fight terrorism," he said. | "We are not supporting anyone against their own people. We fight terrorism," he said. |
| Mr Lavrov said the targets were selected "in co-ordination with the Syrian army". | Mr Lavrov said the targets were selected "in co-ordination with the Syrian army". |
| The Pentagon and Russia had their first conversation on Thursday to ensure there were no accidental clashes between their aircraft in Syria. | The Pentagon and Russia had their first conversation on Thursday to ensure there were no accidental clashes between their aircraft in Syria. |
| But Washington expressed concerns that Russia did not appear to be targeting IS-held areas. | But Washington expressed concerns that Russia did not appear to be targeting IS-held areas. |
| "Carrying out indiscriminate military operations against the Syrian opposition is dangerous for Russia," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. | "Carrying out indiscriminate military operations against the Syrian opposition is dangerous for Russia," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. |
| "It is only going to prolong the sectarian conflict inside Syria, if not make that conflict indefinite, and it also risks Russia being drawn even more deeply into that conflict." | "It is only going to prolong the sectarian conflict inside Syria, if not make that conflict indefinite, and it also risks Russia being drawn even more deeply into that conflict." |
| The joint coalition statement alleged that the strikes had caused civilian casualties but Russia says its warplanes have avoided civilian areas. | The joint coalition statement alleged that the strikes had caused civilian casualties but Russia says its warplanes have avoided civilian areas. |
| Rights groups have also accused the US-led coalition against IS of causing dozens of civilian deaths in air strikes. | Rights groups have also accused the US-led coalition against IS of causing dozens of civilian deaths in air strikes. |
| 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. |
| The battle for Syria and Iraq in maps | The battle for Syria and Iraq in maps |
| Syria's civil war explained | Syria's civil war explained |