Pics: Russian air strikes in Syria against Assad enemies

Russia launched its first air strikes to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria on Tuesday after country’s Parliament approved Vladimir Putin’s request for military intervention.. Here are the latest updates:Russian Defense Ministry claimed that their warplanes targeted eight ISIS positions, including arms, transportation, communications and control positions.But U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter countered that claim.Russia is dismissing claims that its airstrikes in Syria have killed civilians, saying the claims are false and part of an "information war." Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft today, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979.