In Syria, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says Russian airstrikes have killed at least 45 people, including a top commander from a U.S.-backed rebel group. Russia said it was targeting ISIL militants in the area. The news comes as NATO and its allies have launched their largest military exercise in more than a decade. NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow voiced concern over Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Syria.

Alexander Vershbow: “The last time NATO regularly held exercises of this magnitude, we were in the midst of the Cold War facing the Soviet threat. Now we have a far more unstable and potentially more dangerous situation. In the east, Russia has illegally annexed Crimea, it continues to support the separatists in eastern Ukraine, and it now appears to have entered the war in Syria firmly on the side of (Syrian President) Assad. And to our south, from Syria to Libya, failed and failing states have opened the door to extremists and terrorist groups eager to fill the vacuum.”