Russia begins airstrikes in Syria hours after approving use of military forces

Russia has launched airstrikes in Syria just hours after receiving parliamentary approval to use military forces against Islamic State (ISIL) extremists, a US defence official has revealed.

Russian warplanes dropped munitions against ISIL targets in Syria, the official said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Russia’s Federation Council, or upper house, voted to back President Vladmir Putin’s proposal to send military assistance into Syria.

The authorisation follows a request by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to one of Putin’s top aides. Russia’s military involvement will be limited to an air campaign targeting ISIL, said Sergei Ivanov, the Kremlin chief of staff. Russia has built up forces on the ground in Syria including deploying aircraft.

“As our president already said, the use of military forces in ground combat has been ruled out,” Ivanov said.

“The military goal of these operations is exclusively limited to air support for the Syrian government forces in their campaign against ISIL.”