Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Turkey has announced that its fighter jets have carried out their first airstrikes as part of the US-led coalition against the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.

Government forces stormed a rebel-held town outside Damascus yesterday after days of fighting, killing at least 23 fighters, according to an activist group and a rebel spokesman.

Syria’s foreign minister has said the government has already withdrawn some forces from several cities, and stated that the UN-brokered ceasefire must start at the same time as the deployment of international observers.

Activists said Syrian forces attacked two towns today as a deadline passed for President Bashar Assad’s troops to start withdrawing from populated areas under an internationally brokered truce deal.