Russian warplanes carried out air strikes inside Syria for the first time on Wednesday, hitting areas in several provinces in raids that state television said targeted "terrorists".
Here are details of which groups are present in the areas targeted:
Homs province
A security source and Syrian state media, which refer to all rebel groups as "terrorists", both reported Russian strikes in central Homs province, where control is largely divided between regime forces and the Islamic State jihadist group.
The areas hit by the Russian strikes, however, including Talbisseh and Rastan, are largely controlled by Al-Qaeda affiliate and IS rival Al-Nusra Front.
The provincial capital of Homs is under regime control, with the exception of a single district, and the government also holds the former rebel bastion of Qusayr.
IS controls the famed ancient city of Palmyra, along with the Christian town of Al-Qaryatain, and several gas fields.
Hama province
A security source and state media also reported Russian strikes in Hama province, also central Syria, that is mostly controlled by the regime.
IS has a presence in the province, which has also been regularly targeted in past months by the Army of Conquest rebel coalition that includes Al-Nusra.
The reported targets in Hama include areas controlled mostly by Islamist and moderate rebels, as well as by Al-Nusra and IS-affiliated groups.
Russian warplanes carried out air strikes inside Syria for the first time on Wednesday, hitting areas in several provinces in raids that state television said targeted “terrorists”.
Here are details of which groups are present in the areas targeted:
Homs province
A security source and Syrian state media, which refer to all rebel groups as “terrorists”, both reported Russian strikes in central Homs province, where control is largely divided between regime forces and the Islamic State jihadist group.
The areas hit by the Russian strikes, however, including Talbisseh and Rastan, are largely controlled by Al-Qaeda affiliate and IS rival Al-Nusra Front.
The provincial capital of Homs is under regime control, with the exception of a single district, and the government also holds the former rebel bastion of Qusayr.
IS controls the famed ancient city of Palmyra, along with the Christian town of Al-Qaryatain, and several gas fields.
Hama province
A security source and state media also reported Russian strikes in Hama province, also central Syria, that is mostly controlled by the regime.
IS has a presence in the province, which has also been regularly targeted in past months by the Army of Conquest rebel coalition that includes Al-Nusra.
The reported targets in Hama include areas controlled mostly by Islamist and moderate rebels, as well as by Al-Nusra and IS-affiliated groups.
