Dozens of civilians killed in Russian airstrikes.
At least 27 civilians are reported to have been killed Wednesday in first Russian airstrikes on Syrian towns near the city of Homs.
Earlier today the upper house of the Russian parliament gave President Vladimir Putin approval to use the air force in Syria, according to state media.
"The Federation Council unanimously supported the President's request -- 162 votes in favor of granting permission," Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergey Ivanov said, according to ITAR-Tass.
The vote came after a request by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for military assistance in fighting ISIS, Ivanov said.
The death toll is expected to rise as there were several seriously injured people and other missing in the strikes, an observer group reported.