Russia sent combat aircraft to Syria following a request from Damascus, RIA Novosti reported citing Agence France-Presse.
"Russian air forces have been sent to Syria after a request came from the Syrian side in Syrian President Bashar Assad's letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposing to send the Russian air forces as part of President Putin's initiative to fight terrorism," the report quoted a statement from the Syrian president's office.
Earlier on Sept. 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin appealed to the Russian Federation Council for permission to use the Russian armed forces abroad.
The Federation Council granted the request.
The head of the Kremlin administration, Sergei Ivanov told reporters Sept. 30 that the decision concerns Syria and the matter rests only in an operation of the air forces.
Edited by SI