Residents play backgammon in a coffee shop in Damascus September 23, 2014. Syria said on Tuesday that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had told the Damascus government that the United States and its allies were about to attack Islamist fighters in Syria, hours before the air strikes took place. Damascus, which had said any air strikes on Syria must have its approval, did not condemn the attacks launched by the United States with the help of Gulf states and Jordan against Islamic State and al Qaeda-affiliated militants. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST SOCIETY) REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST SOCIETY)