Putin discusses possible co-operation against Islamic State

Vladimir Putin has discussed working with other countries to take on Islamic State militants, Russian media have quoted a Kremlin spokesman as saying.

The Russian president was reported to have talked about the issue with his Security Council today.

"Permanent members of the Security Council exchanged opinions on possible forms of cooperation with other partners on a plan to counter Islamic State in the framework of international law," Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

However, Mr Peskov did not specific which other countries Russia might be considering working with.

Read: France begins first air strikes against Islamic State

French jets have launched their first air strikes inside Iraq since joining the military action against Islamic State militants.

A statement from President Francois Hollande's office said: "This morning at 9.40am (7.40am UK time) our Rafale jets launched a first strike against a logistics depot of the terrorists."

President Francois Hollande said French fighter jets will soon strike against Islamic State militants in Iraq once reconnaissance missions have identified targets.

When asked when French airstrikes in Iraq would begin, he told a news conference: "As soon as we have identified targets, that means in a short time frame.

"It will be air support to protect Iraqi soldiers and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to reduce and weaken this terrorist group."

Read: New IS video appears to show another British hostage

American fighter, attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted seven airstrikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq yesterday and today, US Central Command officials have reported.

One airstrike destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle northwest of the Haditha Dam, two airstrikes destroyed two ISIL armed vehicles northwest of Irbil.

Four airstrikes southwest of Baghdad destroyed several small ISIL ground units and a small boat on the Euphrates River that was resupplying ISIL forces in the area, officials said.

All aircraft exited the strike areas safely, they added.

Centcom has conducted a total of 174 airstrikes across Iraq, officials said.

US President Barack Obama would consider requests to "forward deploy" US military advisers with Iraqi troops "on a case-by-case basis" if they are needed, a White House spokesman has said.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has issued a strongly-worded condemnation of Islamic State terrorists he says are trying to "kill humanity".

In an interview with NBC News, Mr Rouhani said IS murders of civilians were contrary to Islamic teachings.

"From the viewpoint of the Islamic tenets and culture, killing an innocent people equals the killing of the whole humanity," Mr Rouhani said.

Read: Obama: Over 40 countries helping anti-IS effort

President Obama says "more than 40 countries" have offered to help in the fight against Islamic State terrorists.

He stressed that the US would not lead the fight alone, but would "do things differently" by building a strong international effort against the terror group, who are also known as Isis or Isil.

He told US military personnel: "We will lead a broad coalition of countries who have a stake in this fight because this is not simply America vs Isil, this is the people of the region fighting against Isil."

"It is the world rejecting the brutality of Isil and fighting for a better future for our children and our childrens' children - all of them," he added.

Read: Obama: I will not commit ground troops to Iraq

President Obama has made clear that the US will not send ground troops to fight Islamic State terrorists in Iraq.

Speaking at US Central Command in Florida, Mr Obama told military personnel: "As Commander-in-Chief I will not commit you and the rest of our forces to fighting another ground war in Iraq."

He said US personnel in Iraq were there to "support Iraqi forces on the ground as they fight for their own country against these terrorists".

Read: Military chief 'may recommend' sending troops to Iraq

One of the most senior US military officials has said he may yet advise President Obama to send ground troops into Iraq to combat Islamic State militants.

General Martin Dempsey said that if there were "threats to the United States" he would make a recommendation that "may include the use of US military ground forces".

ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore reports:

Read: Hagel outlines plans to fight Islamic State

The US Defence Department are in complete agreement that the United States and its allies must take action against the Islamic State, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel told a hearing in Capitol Hill.