Russia’s defence ministry claims its jets have carried out about 20 flights over Syria hitting eight ISIL targets in Moscow’s most dramatic Middle East intervention in decades.

The provinces of Homs and Hama were the main Russian focus aiming at ISIL positions while Syria’s army launched an assault in Latakia province. .

Although Russia claims not to have targeted civilian areas, video posted online by activists shows what they claim are casualties in Homs..

A spokesperson for the Western-backed Syrian political opposition Khalid Khoja said 36 people were killed in Wednesday’s air raids..

“All those districts were fighting against Daesh and defeated ISIL and the other extreme groups a year ago. All the casualties, unfortunately, are civilians — including one from the white helmets (Syrian civil defense force) and five children.”

Russian military video has been released claiming to show the destruction of an ISIL command post. But activists have counter claimed the are