Russian forces destroy IS communications centre in Homs, command post in Hama

MOSCOW, October 5. /TASS/. The Sukhoi Su-24M bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces have made an airstrike on a communications centre of the Islamic State militants in the Syrian province of Homs and on a command post of the militants in the vicinity of Al-Rastan, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Monday.

"The building that housed the communications centre was destroyed as a result of a direct hit. The communications reconnaissance data have confirmed its destruction," he said.

In addition, Konashenkov said, airstrikes on three terrorist facilities were made in the area of the Tell Bisa settlement in the Homs province. "The Su-34 and Su-24M planes destroyed two ammunition depots of terrorists. The airstrikes caused a fire and detonation of the ammunition, which destroyed these facilities," he said.

On Sunday, Russian aviation has made 25 sorties in Syria, delivering strikes on 9 Islamic State facilities.

Russian pilots started making pinpoint strikes on terrorist facilities in Syria last week - on September 30. The Russian Aerospace Forces’ air group in Syria comprises more than 50 planes and helicopters. The military operation is conducted at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Russian military are not planning a ground operation in Syria.

Konashenkov told reporters last week that in accordance with a decision by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin, the Russian Aerospace Force planes started an operation to deal pinpoint strikes against ground targets of the IS terrorist group in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. "The Russian Defense Minister, General Sergei Shoigu has told his counterparts in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation that in the course of the military operation in Syria Russian warplanes have been attacking military equipment, communication centres, vehicles and munitions and fuel and lubricants depots of the Islamic State terrorists."