LONDON – Russian warplanes carried out their first bombardments in Syria on Wednesday, with Moscow saying the fighters hit opposition forces fighting the Damascus regime as well as targets of the Islamic State group (ISIS/ISIL).
Russia’s state-run RT TV reported that, “earlier in the day, the Russian military announced the start of air operations in Syria in order to help the government fight terrorist forces.”
The report said the attacks included areas around the cities of Homs and Hama. “Some reports also alleged that Russian jets hit a Free Syrian Army-controlled areas,” RT said.
It quoted the Russian military as saying that eight ISIS targets also were hit.
“Today, Russian air force jets delivered pinpoint strikes on eight ISIS terror group targets in Syria. In total, 20 flights were made,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
“As a result, arms and fuel depots and military equipment were hit. ISIS coordination centers in the mountains were totally destroyed,” he added.
“Russian jets did not use weapons on civilian infrastructure or in its vicinity,” according to Konashenkov.
Russia has sided with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while the United States has backed opposition forces and insisted that the embattled president must step down.
US officials expressed displeasure at the Russian intervention, especially over reports that the warplanes had hit anti-regime rebels, some of whom are backed by Washington.
