Russia has said its war planes joined forces with Turkish jets for the first time to target so-called Islamic State militants holding the town of al-Bab in northern Syria.<br /><br /> Russia and Turkey are the main organisers of a new round of Syrian peace talks to take place in Kazakhstan next week. They have set aside their differences over the political fate of President Assad to try to forge a wider deal.<br /><br /> A senior defence ministry official, Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi, said nine Russian jets and eight Turkish war planes had been involved. He added that initial results showed the strikes were highly effective in hitting their targets.<br /><br /> The Russians say the joint mission was conducted in agreement with the Syrian government.<br /><br /> Moscow also says its air force provided air support to Syrian government troops trying to fight off an ISIL assault around the town of Deir al-Zor. Russia fears a massacre of civilians if the town is taken. <br /><br /> According to the defence ministry, Russian jets are also helping a Syrian government offensive near Palmyra. It claims to have received information that militants are planning to blow up more of the ancient city’s historical monuments.<br />
