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Fight against Islamic state

Russian aviation destroys three major oil facilities in Syria — General Staff

Russian aircraft on Thursday morning delivered the third massive strike at terrorists in Syria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Russia's warplanes in Syria start hunting Islamic State tanker trucks — General Staff

MOSCOW, November 19 /TASS/. Russian bombers on Thursday destroyed the headquarters of the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria; three major oil facilities and an oil pumping station, General Andrey Kartapolov, the head of the main operations directorate of the Russian Army General Staff, said on Thursday.

"The air strikes destroyed the headquarters, three depots with oil, lubricants and ammunition; a plant for the production of explosive devices; a command center, a workshop for the production and repairs of mortar launchers, three major oil facilities and an oil pumping station," General Kartapolov said.

Russian aircraft on Thursday morning delivered the third massive strike at terrorists in Syria. Tu-95MS strategic bombers made sorties on Thursday morning while long-range Tu-22M3 aircraft made sorties in daytime.

"Today at 09:00 Moscow Time, Russia’s Air Force delivered the third massive air strike at illegal armed formations on Syrian territory," Kartapolov said.

"The air strikes have destroyed the headquarters, three depots with oil, lubricants and ammunition; a plant for the production of explosive devices; a command center, a workshop for the production and repairs of mortar launchers and an oil pumping station," General Kartapolov said.

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Russian Tupolev-95MS strategic bombers launched twelve cruise missiles from the Russian territory at the facilities and installations controlled by the Islamic State in Syria, including a missile targeted at the terrorist grouping's headquarters in the city of Idlib.

He said the attack at the facilities in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib took place between 09:00 and 09:20 Moscow Standard Time (06:00 and 06:20 GMT).

"The strikes were aimed at the depots with fuels and lubricants, a factory for manufacturing explosives, a command point and the Islamic State's headquarters in the city of Idlib," Gen Kartapolov said.

Besides, Tupolev Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 long-range aircraft destroyed 12 IS targets in the Syrian provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. A squadron of Tu-22M3 bombers attacked six targets. The attack lasted from 16:40 to 17:30 Moscow time.

"The bombers hit the terrorists’ oil refineries, a munitions depot and a mortar repair and manufacturing facility in the Islamic State-controlled territories," Kartapolov said.

The first two massive strikes of Russia’s aircraft at terrorists were delivered on November 17 and 18.

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

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