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Fight against Islamic state

General Staff: Russian forces delivered air strikes on 380 IS facilities in Syria

Since the beginning of the operation, Russian warplaners have made over 600 sorties

Russia's Su-30 fighter jet bombing Russian Defence Ministry's Press and Information Department/TASS

Russia's Su-30 fighter jet bombing

© Russian Defence Ministry's Press and Information Department/TASS

MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. Russian aircraft have made over 600 sorties and delivered airstrikes on 380 facilities of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Syria since the beginning of the operation, Russian army’s Deputy General Staff Chief Colonel General Andrey Kartapolov said on Friday.

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"We continue to carry out our mission. Since the beginning of the operation, we have made more than 600 sorties… Delivering strikes on more than 380 IS facilities," Kartapolov said said in an interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.

According to him, the Russian airstrikes have inflicted major losses on the IS militant groups. "We have also observed cases when the militants were fleeing their positions in panic, which is telling. Naturally, this also encourages the [Syrian] government troops that mounted an offensive," Kartapolov said.

Russia launched an air operation against terrorists in Syria on September 30 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian Aerospace Force’s aviation grouping comprises over 50 aircraft and helicopters, including the newest Sukhoi Su-34 warplanes, Su-30SM fighter jets, modernized Su-24M bombers and Su-25SM attack aircraft, as well as the Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. The Russian Navy has also delivered strikes from the Caspian Sea on the night to October 7 against militants’ objectives in Syria, using Kalibr long-range cruise missiles. At the same time, Russia has no plans to participate in ground operations in Syria.

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Russia's military grouping in Syria

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