Six Russian strategic bombers carried out air strikes on an Islamic State militant camp and ammunition depots in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
The bombers left one of Russia’s southern air bases on Tuesday morning, passed through Iraqi and Iranian airspace, and hit targets in eastern Palmyra, Es-Suhne, and the village of Arak, according to the ministry.
The strikes “destroyed a large militant field camp, three tanks, four armored personnel carriers, eight vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns, and a large number of enemy personnel,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Russia launched a major anti-terrorist campaign in Syria on Sept. 30, 2015. According to official reports, the goal of the campaign was to support Syrian government forces in the fight against terrorism.In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of the main portion of troops from Syria. However, a significant portion of troops still remain in the country.
The Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
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