ANKARA, Turkey — Russia claimed Monday that its military aircraft had struck dozens of Islamic State positions in Syria over the last 24 hours, the Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
“In the course of the last 24 hours, Russian military aircraft Su-34s, Su-24Ms and Su-25SMs have executed 55 combat outings engaging 53 ISIS positions in the Homs, Hama, Latakia and Idlib provinces,” reported Anadolu quoting a Russian defense ministry statement.
The statement said Russian jets had targeted ISIS bunkers and weapons depots near the city of Latakia in Idlib province, and ISIS convoys transporting ammunition and fuel north of Hama.
Syrian government forces supported by Russian jets began a ground offensive in rural areas north of Hama last week.
On September 30, Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria, targeting ISIS positions in northeastern Homs province.
US officials have expressed displeasure at the Russian intervention in Syria, especially over reports that the warplanes had hit anti-regime rebels, some of which are backed by Washington.
On October 3, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Russia’s actions in Syria are supporting the “butcher,” referring to embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
