ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Russia has claimed that it carried out 41 airstrikes in Syria Wednesday, destroying 40 hideouts and bunkers of the so-called Islamic State, according to the Russian defense ministry in a statement.
“Over the last 24 hours, Russian warplanes, including Sukhoi Su-24M and Su-34 bombers, together with Su-25SM ground support aircraft, targeted Islamic State sites,” according to the statement.
The jets hit command posts, ammunition and armament depots, military vehicles, plants producing explosives, field camps and bases, the statement added.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Russian foreign ministry said that Russian fighter jets destroyed a building in Aleppo from where ISIS militants prepared to carry out suicide attacks and rigged vehicles with explosives.
“The fighter jets also targeted heights in the city of Idlib from which ISIS terrorists coordinated their activities and there was an ammunition depot at the site,” said Major General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesperson of the Russian foreign ministry.
Earlier Monday, Russia said that its military aircraft had struck 55 ISIS positions in Syria.
On September 30, Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria, claiming to target ISIS positions in northeastern Homs province.
US officials have expressed displeasure at the Russian intervention in Syria, especially over reports that Russian warplanes have hit anti-regime rebels 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.
