MOSCOW — Russian military jets carried out airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria today for the first time, the defense ministry said.

The airstrikes targeted IS positions, vehicles and warehouses that Russia believes belong to IS militants, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told Russian news agencies.

Russia’s upper chamber of parliament earlier today gave the green light to President Vladimir Putin’s request to send Russian troops to Syria.

Putin said the Russian air force will be supporting the Syrian army in its offensive operations.

Russia is “not going to plunge into this conflict head-on,” Putin said, and Moscow will help Syrian President Bashar Assad’s army as long as their offensive operation lasts.

Putin also said he expects Assad to sit down and talk with the Syrian opposition about a political settlement.

Russian lawmakers voted unanimously to allow Putin to order airstrikes in Syria, where Russia has recently deployed fighter jets and other weapons.

The Islamic State group has captured large parts of both Syria and Iraq.