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Fight against Islamic state

Russian general: Islamic State acknowledged elimination of 3 field commanders

Abu Nour Bagasi, Mouhammad ibn Hairat and Al-Oqaba operated in the area of Aleppo

© AP Photo/ Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. Militants of the Islamic State grouping in Syria have acknowledged the death of three field commanders in Aleppo Province as a result of strikes by the Russian aircraft, Gen Andrey Kartapolov, the chief of the main department for operations at the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces said on Thursday.

"The militants acknowledged the elimination of field commanders Abu Nour Bagasi, Mouhammad ibn Hairat and Al-Oqaba who operated in the area of Aleppo," he told a news briefing.

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According to the general, the Russian military use satellites to check the facts of hitting terrorist targets in Syria. They receive information on the loss of life among the terrorists from the Syrian army.

Kartapolov said objective control data received from planes and unmanned aerial vehicles makes it possible to assess how effective the Russian air strikes are.

"Space reconnaissance data is used to verify the damage of most vital targets. We receive reports about the loss of life among terrorists from the Syrian side," Kartapolov said.

Russian warplanes have been delivering air strikes at terrorist facilities in Syria since September 30 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian military started massive air strikes, involving the long-range aviation - Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers and Tu-22M3 long-range bomber aircraft - on November 17.

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Russia’s long-range strategic bombers in action over Syria

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