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Russian Defense Ministry says militants in Syria change tactics

The terrorists are trying to use the defensive maneuver strategy, regularly moving and dodging strikes of both the Syrian government troops and Russian aviation

MOSCOW, November 9. /TASS/. The Russian military have observed a change in the tactics of terrorists in Syria - they now act "not so brazenly" as before, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov told reporters on Monday.

"We have observed a significant change in the terrorists’ tactics throughout the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. The gangs now act not so brazenly as a month ago," he said.

According to him, the terrorists are trying to use the defensive maneuver strategy, regularly moving and dodging strikes of both the Syrian government troops and Russian aviation.

"The routes of supplies of arms and ammunition are constantly changing. This is done mainly during the night with all the elements of masking," the defense spokesman said.

Previously, the Russian army’s General Staff said that Russian air strikes in Syria destroyed the militants’ command and control and logistics system and that the militants were experiencing an acute shortage of ammunition, weapons and fuel. The main forces of the militants have lost the fighting capacity, the General Staff said.

On September 30, Russia’s Aerospace Force started to deliver the first pinpoint airstrikes against the militants’ positions. 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, conducted at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Russian aircraft have performed hundreds of sorties to destroy dozens of ammunition depots, factories for the production of explosives and command posts. Also, overnight to October 7, the Caspian Flotilla ships delivered a massive strike on the IS objectives in Syria, using Kalibr NK shipborne cruise missiles. The Russian authorities have said on many occasions that Russia’s military forces would not take part in any ground operation in Syria.