Russian parliament approves military action in Syria

The Russian Parliament has given Vladimir Putin approval to use military force against so-called Islamic State in Syria.

Russia has been building up its military presence in the country, where it backs the Assad regime against so-called Islamic State.

Politicians in the Russian Parliament's Upper Chamber voted unanimously to support President Putin's request for military action.

Sergei Ivanov, the head of the Kremlin administration, said the vote did not mean troops would be on the ground, with the focus on using the Russian air force.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also confirmed Russia's main military goal in Syria will be to combat terrorism and support President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

The last time the parliament granted Putin the right to use military force abroad - a legal requirement under Russian law - was when troops seized the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine last year.

The approval comes after Putin discussed the Syrian crisis with President Obama at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.

According to Russian officials the country has already sent military experts to a Baghdad co-ordination and control centre established to aid air strikes and ground troops in Syria.