Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that two influential terrorist leaders have been killed in Russian air strikes in Syria, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Thursday.
A large group of Islamic State militants, along with their leader Abu Maher, were killed in air attacks around the village of Kalaz Taktani.
“Abu Anas Al-Shami — leader of the terrorist group Jaysh al-Sham — was also killed in the same province,” Konashenkov said, RIA Novosti reported.
Konashenkov said that during air strikes, terrorists in Syria attempt to flee over the border to Turkey.
Konashenkov also accused the U.S. of bombing the Syrian city of Aleppo and then blaming Russia.
“At around 13.55 Moscow time on Wednesday, U.S. Air Force A-10 fighter jets entered Syrian airspace from Turkey and dropped bombs on Aleppo,” Konashenkov said, the Meduza news agency reported Thursday.
Konashenkov said that Pentagon spokesman Steven Warren then alleged that Russian planes destroyed two hospitals in Aleppo, a claim Russia refutes.
“No time, coordinates for the hospitals or sources for this information have been presented from the American side,” Konashenkov said.
“The closest Russian plane at that time was more than 20 kilometers from the town,” he added.
Russia commenced air strikes on Islamic State positions in Syria in September last year. The Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
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