Russian warplanes in cooperation with Syrian air forces bomb ISIS sites in central region

PROVINCES,(ST)_Russian warplanes conducted today at noon the first strikes on ISIS sites in the central region upon the agreement reached between Syria and Russia to confront the international terrorism, a military source declared Wednesday.

The source added that the air strikes, which were conducted in cooperation with the Syrian air forces, targeted ISIS hideouts in al-Rastan, Talbeseh, al-Zaafaran, al-Tlol al-Homer, Eidon and Dirfol towns and on the outskirts of Salameyeh area in the central region.

The air strikes inflicted heavy losses on terrorists, the source confirmed.

Presidency of The Syrian Arab Republic has asserted that the Russian air forces sent to Syria upon request written by President Bashar al-Assad to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to confront terrorism.

RT said the upper chamber of the Russian parliament has unanimously given a formal consent to President Putin to use the nation’s military in Syria to fight terrorism at a request from the Syrian President Bashar Assad.

It quoted Head of the Russian presidential administration Sergey Ivanov as saying: “The military goal of the operation is strictly to provide air support for the [Syrian] government forces in their fight against Islamic State.”

“The bombing campaign is time-limited,” Ivanov added, not revealing a clear deadline for it. He said he was not authorized to disclose details of the operation such as the number of warplanes involved.

“All our partners and allies will be informed about our decision today through corresponding military channels. Specific military information will be provided as well, I believe,” he concluded.

Large numbers of terrorists killed

Back to results military operations carried out by Syrian army against terrorist organizations nationwide, the official news agency (SANA) said that army units killed large numbers of terrorists and destroyed and armored car belonging to them on the outskirts of al-Latamneh town, about 35km northwest of Homs city.

The agency added that army units destroyed 2 vehicles equipped with machine guns on a road linking Kafer Zetta and al-Zakat in the northern countryside of Hama and eliminated many Israeli-linked terrorists in Tranjeh town in Quneitra countryside.

Further terrorists were killed in and outside Aleppo and in Daraa al-Balad area in southern Daraa province.

Basma Qaddour