Russia destroys 472 ISIS targets in Syria bombing missions over the weekend

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France launched fighter jet attacks on ISIS attacks in Syria for the first time from Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier
Russian air force flew 141 bombing raids over Syria this weekend, destroying almost 500 ISIS targets in the country
Among the cities targeted with strategic bomb attaks were the Syrian capital of Damascus, Aleppo and Raqqa
See more of the latest news updates on the Russian bombings in Syria

By Jennifer Newton and Tom Wyke for MailOnline

Published: 06:28 EST, 23 November 2015 | Updated: 22:06 EST, 23 November 2015

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France scaled up their attacks on ISIS targets in Syria after doubling their strike capacity following the deployment of one of its top aircraft carriers.

French fighter jets bound for Syria launched for the first time from its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. The arrival of the carrier has meant that the capacity of France's air power has doubled with the vessel able to carry up to 26 jets.

After a few days of practice, French fighter jets were deployed from the carrier and used to hit ISIS attacks in its de-facto capital of Raqqa in Syria.

Scroll down for video:

Looking strong: With the arrival of its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, France has doubled its airpower capabilities in the region

Ready for action: Final checks are made to the missiles by French navy soldiers as a French Rafale fighter jet prepares for takeoff

The attacks come after the Russian air force flew 141 missions over Syria at the weekend destroying 472 ISIS targets in the country. The Russian Defence Ministry was quoted today as saying jets targeted several provinces in the country as their bombing campaign against the terrorist group was stepped up.

Among the cities pounded with bombs were the capital Damascus, Aleppo, Homs as well as the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa.

Moscow launched a bombing campaign in support of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's forces at the end of September.

However, the bombing campaign has been stepped up since ISIS blew up a Russian airliner over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula at the end of October, killing all 224 people on board. The Paris terror attacks, which again were carried out by ISIS, have also seen the bombing intensify.

News of the latest bombardment comes as Russian president Vladimir Putin arrived in Tehran in Iran on Monday for talks about the conflict in Syria.

He is due to hold talks with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani on the one day visit.

Meanwhile, flights to and from two airports in northern Iraq are being suspended for 48 hours due to the danger posed by Russian cruise missile heading for Syria.

Working hard: Airforce crew watch on as one of the first fighter jets heads off for its mission in Syria and Iraq

Ready for action: A pilot prepares for takeoff as France launched more strikes on ISIS targets in Syria

Fighting hard: ISIS claimed that Frances' recent bombing raids on Raqqa only hit a hospital and a bakery, causing no casualties

Revenge for Paris: France has been bombarding ISIS targets, particuarly in Raqqa, since the Paris massacre on November 13

All set to go: A French naval soldier gives a thumbs up to indicate the jet is ready for takeoff from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrrier

Defiant: 130 people were killed in the Paris attacks, prompting Francois Hollande to declare war on ISIS

Iraq's Civil Aviation Authority decided to suspend all departing and arriving flights from and to Irbil and Sulaimaniyah airports for 48 hours from today, it said in a statement, referring to airports in the autonomous Kurdish region.

They said the decision was made to 'protect passengers and because of the crossing of cruise missiles and bombers'.

The directors of Arbil and Sulaimaniyah airports both confirmed that flights had been suspended, mentioning the danger of Russian missiles but not the bombers referred to in the Civil Aviation Authority's statement.

'There are fears for the aircraft and passengers due to Russian missiles,' said Talar Faeq, director general of Arbil airport.

While Sulaimaniyah airport director Tahir Abdullah said the decision was taken 'because of the intensification of Russian missile attacks on Daesh strongholds in Syria,' using an Arabic acronym for ISIS.

In its bombing campaign, Moscow has fired cruise missiles from warships in the Caspian Sea that passed over northern Iraq en route to their targets in Syria, most recently on Friday.

On Saturday, flights in and out of Lebanon were rerouted and some airlines cancelled services after Moscow requested they avoid an area over the eastern Mediterranean.

The Russian air force flew 141 missions over Syria at the weekend destroying 472 ISIS targets in the country, it has been revealed. Pictured is a strike on a ISIS facility in province of Idlib

The Russian Defence Ministry was quoted today as saying jets targeted several provinces in the country. Pictured is an oil processing facility controlled by ISIS in Deir Ezzor on fire.

The bombing campaign has been stepped up since ISIS blew up a Russian airliner over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula at the end of October, killing all 224 people on board

Moscow launched a bombing campaign in support of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's forces at the end of Spetember. Pictured is another oil facility on fire in Deir Ezzor