Syria conflict Russia launches fresh strikes.\rbr\rbrRussian air strikes have targeted rebel-held areas in northwest Syria for a second day. Russia claims to have hit 12 Islamic State positions in the past 24 hours, .\rbr\rbrSyria conflict Russia launches fresh strikes.\rbr\rbrRussia has launched air strikes in Syria for a second day, saying that Islamic State (IS) had been targeted. The defence ministry said its jets had destroyed an IS .\rbr\rbrRussia has launched air strikes in Syria for a second day. The strikes reportedly targeted positions in the north-west held by the Army of Conquest rebel alliance.