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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Russian missiles 'hit IS in Syria from Caspian Sea' | Russian missiles 'hit IS in Syria from Caspian Sea' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russia says it has launched rocket strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria from its warships in the Caspian Sea - about 1,500km (930 miles) away. | |
| Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said four warships fired 26 sea-based cruise missiles on 11 targets, destroying them. | Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said four warships fired 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. | Meanwhile, Syrian ground troops have launched an offensive under Russian air cover, Syrian officials say. |
| Russia denies claims that its week of strikes have mainly hit non-IS targets. | Russia denies claims that its week of strikes have 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. | 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. | 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. | Russia says it is targeting "all terrorists", but at least some of its air strikes have reportedly hit civilians and Western-backed rebels. |
| New twist: BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus | |
| Russia's decision to attack what it claims to be IS targets in Syria with cruise missiles fired from warships in the Caspian Sea represents a new twist to Moscow's growing involvement in the crisis. | |
| It is not clear yet why these particular weapons were chosen in preference to air strikes - but the missiles would have had to fly a considerable distance over Iraq and then Iran to reach Syria. | |
| Sea-launched cruise missiles have long been a favourite US weapon of choice in interventions overseas, so there may be an element of Russia demonstrating that it has the full military panoply of any other "superpower". | |
| But it adds yet a further complication to the air campaign in the skies over Syria. Of more significance may be early signs of Syrian government counter-offensives - aided by their allies - which could be linked to the Russian air campaign. | |
| High-stakes gamble - Jonathan Marcus says Russia's two Turkish incursions highlight the risk of a potential clash | High-stakes gamble - Jonathan Marcus says Russia's two Turkish incursions highlight the risk of a potential clash |
| What can Russia's air force achieve? Why should Russia do any better than the US-led coalition? | What can Russia's air force achieve? Why should Russia do any better than the US-led coalition? |
| Turkish warning | |
| During a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Shoigu said the four ships launched the missiles on Wednesday morning. | During a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Shoigu said the four ships launched the missiles on Wednesday morning. |
| The minister said all the targets - including command and control centres and ammunition depots - had been destroyed and that there had been no damage to civilian installations. | The minister said all the targets - including command and control centres and ammunition depots - had been destroyed and that there had been no damage to civilian installations. |
| President Putin praised the Russian military, saying the armed forces were "well prepared". | President Putin praised the Russian military, saying the armed forces were "well prepared". |
| Mr Shoigu said 112 targets had been hit since the Russian bombing began | |
| He also said that Moscow had "established contacts with our Turkish partners". | |
| This comes after Russia's ambassador to Ankara was summoned three times in response to recent violations of Turkey's airspace. | This comes after Russia's ambassador to Ankara was summoned three times in response to recent violations of Turkey's airspace. |
| Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Russia that any "attack on Turkey means an attack on Nato", referring to the alliance's collective defence doctrine, which commits all members to protect one another. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Russia that any "attack on Turkey means an attack on Nato", referring to the alliance's collective defence doctrine, which commits all members to protect one another. |
| Russia's Caspian fleet | Russia's Caspian fleet |
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