Russia says it struck 9 Islamic State sites in Syria

Moscow says military bombed command centers, weapons facilities, other posts as part of campaign

By AFP 5 October 2015, 2:21 pm

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In this image made from video provided by Homs Media Center, smoke rises after Russian airstrikes by military jets in Talbiseh of the Homs province, western Syria, Wednesday, September 30, 2015. (Homs Media Center via AP)

Russian military jets carried out strikes on nine Islamic State sites in Syria over the past 24 hours, the defense ministry in Moscow said Monday.

The Russian warplanes hit IS command centers, weapon caches, artillery and communication posts in the Homs, Idlib and Latakia provinces of Syria, the ministry said in a statement.

“25 sorties were completed by Su-34, Su-24 and Su-25 jets from the airbase in Hmeimim. Nine IS facilities were struck,” the statement said.

In the northwestern Idlib province the Russian military said it had destroyed a training camp by the city of Jisr al-Shughur, artillery positions near Jabal al-Qobeh and armored vehicles.

A command center in the coastal region of Latakia was also hit, while in the Homs province a command center near the town of Rastan was struck along with two ammunition depots and a communication center, Moscow said.

Russia last Wednesday launched airstrikes in Syria and says it is hitting targets connected to IS jihadists in the war-torn country.

The United States and its allies have accused Russia of seeking to buttress its long-standing ally President Bashar Assad under cover of a claimed assault on IS, by attacking various opposition forces.