Russia tells India it is starting air, rocket attacks in Syria

New Delhi: Russia on Wednesday conveyed to India that it is starting air and rocket attacks on terrorists locations in Syria following a request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for military assistance in fighting against ISIS and other terrorist groups.

The Russian Embassy here officially informed the External Affairs Ministry that in accordance with the request of the Syrian President for providing military assistance in fighting against ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria, Russia begins air and rocket attacks on terrorist locations on all territory of the Syria today, a release from the embassy said.

The release from the embassy came as Russian President Vladimir Putin today won permission from parliament to carry out air strikes in Syria, in what would be Russia's first engagement in a distant war operation since the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.