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Russian missiles 'hit IS in Syria from Caspian' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Russia has launched rocket strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria from its warships in the Caspian Sea, 1,500km (932 miles) away, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu says. | |
He said four warships launched 26 sea-based cruise missiles on 11 targets, destroying them. | |
Meanwhile, Syrian ground troops have launched an offensive under Russian air cover, Syrian officials say. | |
Russia denies claims that its week-long strikes mainly hit non-IS targets. | |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported "the most intense fighting in months" in Hama and Idlib provinces. | |
The clashes followed a wave of Russian air strikes in the same areas, it said. | |
It appears to be the first co-ordinated offensive since the air campaign by Russia - a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - began on 30 September. | |
Russia says it is targeting "all terrorists", but at least some of its air strikes have reportedly hit civilians and Western-backed rebels. |