Russia Launches First Airstrikes in Syria Listen Download Embed Share Share this on Facebook (Opens in a new window) Share this on Twitter (Opens in a new window) Share this via Email A picture taken on September 30, 2015 shows damaged buildings in the Syrian province of Homs. Russian warplanes carried out air strikes in three Syrian provinces, including Homs, on Sept. 30. ( MAHMOUD TAHA/AFP / Getty ) Produced by PRI and WNYC