Air strikes in Syria hit Islamic State and al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front

The United States and its partners carried out at least 50 air strikes on Islamic State targets in the Syrian provinces of Raqqa and Deir al-Zor on Tuesday, while the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front was also hit by air strikes in northwest Syria, a group monitoring the war in Syria said.

Rami Abdulrahman, who runs the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least 20 Islamic State fighters were killed in the air strikes. He also said Nusra Front positions had been struck in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo in northwest Syria.

The Jordanian army said on Tuesday it had mounted air strikes against "terrorist groups" that were planning attacks in Jordan, an indication Amman had joined US-led air strikes against Islamic State in neighbouring Syria.

A Jordanian army statement did not say where the air force had struck. "Air force jets destroyed a number of targets that belong to some terrorist groups that sought to commit terror acts inside Jordan," the statement broadcast on state TV said.

The Pentagon earlier said the United States and partner nations were carrying out the first air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria.