North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ready to deploy forces to Turkey

“About the Iranian impacts of cruise missiles, we did have a few indications that that was the case and if so that would indicate malfunctions of those missiles”, he told reporters.

In a further show of force, the Russian defence ministry said missiles fired from its ships in the Caspian Sea hit weapons’ factories, arms dumps, command centres and training camps supporting IS forces.

Speaking at almost the same time, Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said, “Russia’s joining the struggle against terrorism on Syria’s territory will lead to changes in the region and the whole world”, in remarks relayed by Russia’s Tass news agency.

In Moscow, Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian military operation in Syria, denied that any of the missiles had fallen short of their targets.

The Russian defence ministry posted a graphic on its website on Wednesday showing 26 missiles overflying Iran and Iraq before striking inside Syria.

“There has to be a political solution, a transition”, Stoltenberg said.

Since Russian Federation began air strikes last week it has described all its targets as belonging to ISIL, although most have been in areas controlled by other rebel movements where ISIL has little or no presence. Kerry voiced concern that the “preponderance of targets” being struck by Russian military forces in Syria aren’t related to the Islamic State.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said there had been a “troubling escalation” in Moscow’s air campaign and pledged to “assess the latest developments and their implications for the security of the alliance”.

Syrian state television said that Russian and Syrian warplanes had conducted “precise strikes on terrorist organizations in northern parts of Latakia” targeting al-Nusra, and others on Sahl al-Ghab. It made no mention of any missiles going astray. They violated Turkish airspace… “And I call on Russian Federation to play a constructive and cooperative role in the fight against ISIS, not to continue to support the Assad regime”.

Meanwhile, Syrian ground troops have launched an offensive under Russian air cover, Syrian officials say.

The comments, which were published Thursday in the Hurriyet newspaper, come amid tensions with Russia over airstrikes which Turkey and allies say have mainly targeted moderate Syrian opposition groups and over the Russian warplanes’ violation of Turkey’s air space.

The military alliance is also boosting its response forces to be able to deploy troops speedily.