Russian bomber destroys IS tanks, infantry vehicles in Syria’s Homs — Defense Ministry

LATAKIA, November 11. /TASS/. A Russian Su-24M bomber has destroyed three tanks and two infantry fighting vehicles of the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria’s Homs province, Major General Igor Konashenkov, the Defense Ministry’s official spokesman, said on Wednesday.

"A Su-24M bomber hit a group of ISIL armored vehicles discovered by drones 45 kilometers to the south of the city of Tadmor in Homs province," Konashenkov said. "Three tanks and two infantry fighting vehicles have been destroyed by the sir strike."

A Su-24M bomber has also destroyed a Jabhat al-Nusra mortar battery in Syria’s Hama province.

"A Su-24M bomber destroyed a Jabhat al-Nusra mortar battery in the outskirts of Kafer ez Zaita populated locality with a direct air strike," he said.

According to Konashenkov the Russian aviation group in Syria has over the past 2 days made 85 sorties against 277 terrorist facilities in the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, Hama, Homs and Idlib.

"Over the past two days, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in Syria have made 85 combat sorties against 277 terrorist facilities in the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, Hama, Homs and Idlib," he said.

Aircraft of the Russian air grouping in Syria have also destroyed an ammunition depot of IS militants in the Damascus Governorate.

According to Konashenkov, "a strike has been delivered at a group of IS vehicles and an ammunition depot with mines and artillery shells near Bir Qassab, Damascus Governorate." "The depot with all its contents and four terrain vehicles that belonged to terrorists have been destroyed," he said.

Russia’s airstrikes over the past two days have also disrupted the plans of the militant offensive on the Syrian city of Hama.

"According to the data provided by the Syrian opposition confirmed by the command of the Syrian government forces, thanks to the surgical strikes of Russian aircraft over the past 48 hours terrorists’ plans to launch an offensive on the city of Hama from several directions have been disrupted. This information has been confirmed by our unmanned aerial vehicles," he said.

"Terrorists’ units operating in the Morek suburb, instead of launching an offensive, are trying to build fortifications and create minefields to stop the Syrian government troops," Konashenkov said.

The spokesman also dwelled on the recent success of the Syrian army that unblocked the Kweiras air base in the Aleppo province. 

"As a result of the Russian aviation’s operations, the Syrian government forces have unblocked the Kweiras military aerodrome. This aerodrome had been fully encircled by bandit formations of the Islamic State for more than two years," the spokesman said.

"The data on the terrorists’ firing positions and strongholds encircling the Kweiras aerodrome were received from representatives of the Syrian opposition and confirmed at the information center in Baghdad," Konashenkov said.

The spokesman also said residents of Syria's province Aleppo provide intense support to Syria's government forces so fighters of the Ahrar ah-Sham group have suffered significant losses recently in clashes with local population.

"Near the village of Tel Mamo, a fierce battle erupted between local residents and militants of the Ahrar ash-Sham group, resulting in considerable losses among terrorists," Konashenkov said.

Syrian government troops have destroyed seven militant units, up to 900 people all in all, in the area of the settlements of Aziziyah, Kafer-Haddad and Tell Mamo owing to sorties of Russian warplanes and information from the Syrian opposition.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Russian military were engaged in active reconnaissance and in checking through several information channelsf the targets supplied by the Syrian opposition.

Re-deployment of armaments and ammunition to terrorists operating in the area of Aleppo and Idlib was prevented as a result, he said. "This enabled the Syrian government troops to destroy seven units of terrorists, 900 people all in all, in the area of Aziziyah, Kafer-Haddad and Tell Mamo settlements," the spokesman added.

He said the remaining militants lost their fighting efficiency and left the area of their combat activity.

Russia’s Su-34 bomber destroyed a large underground warehouse of the Jabhat al-Nusra militant group in the Syrian province of Homs. The information on that warehouse was also provided by the Syrian opposition.

"A Su-34 bomber has destroyed a large underground ammunition depot belonging to the Jabhat al-Nusra group in the vicinity of the Mhin settlement, Homs province. The coordinates of the facility were received from the Syrian opposition," the official said.

"After this information was verified through other channels, an airstrike with the BETAB-500 concrete piercing bomb was made on the facility, as a result of which strong detonation of ammunition led to its total destruction," Konashenkov said.

Russian military operation in Syria

The Russian military started an operation against the militants of the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organisations (outlawed in Russia) in Syria on September 30 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian aviation grouping comprises more than 50 aircraft and helicopters, including the Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-24M bombers, Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-30SM fighters and Mil Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters.

Since the start of its operation in Syria, the Russian Aerospace Forces grouping has performed hundreds of sorties to destroy dozens of ammunition depots, factories producing explosives and command posts. Besides, overnight to October 7, the Caspian Flotilla ships delivered a massive strike on the IS objectives in Syria, using Kalibr NK shipborne cruise missiles.

Since the beginning of the operation, the Russian pilots have destroyed more than 2,000 terrorist facilities.

The Russian authorities have said on many occasions that Russia’s military forces would not take part in any ground operation in Syria.