Russia Launches First Syrian Airstrikes

Russia has begun launching airstrikes on targets in Syria, the culmination of a military build up in the country that has been taking place for weeks.

Russian aircraft attacked positions around the centrally located city of Homs, which was one of the first cities to rise up against Syrian President Bashar al Assad and has been the site of near constant fighting since the war began in 2011, according to The New York Times.

The attacks were launched shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin was able to get Russia's upper house of parliament to approve legislation that gave him permission to deploy Russian forces abroad. The vote was unanimous, with 162 in support and zero against, while eight lawmakers missed the vote.

In an unusual sign of cooperation for how tense the relationship between Russia and the United States has been of late, Russia warned the United States ahead of time about the impending air strikes.

Both countries have been at loggerheads since Russia began to back separatist forces fighting the central government in Ukraine in the wake of that country's revolution in 2014.

The attacks in Syria come after an increase in Russia's military presence that took place over the last month. In addition to the country's longtime naval base in Tartus, Russia began to build an airbase near Latakia. This base is said to be able to accommodate most of the Russian air force and have housing for nearly 2,000 personnel.

It is being protected by an assortment of tanks and mobile artillery units, as well as helicopter gunships, and fighter jets.

Situated in Assad's ancestral homeland and base of power, it will provide his forces, who have been on their back foot for some time, with a much needed boost in its efforts to retain what little control of the country they have.