Russia says it bombed HAS 456 'Islamic State targets' in Syria so far, rebukes US
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Russian Sukhoi-30SM jet fighters landing on a runway at the Hmeimim airbase in the Syrian province of Latakia. (AFP photo)
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MOSCOW: Russia has hit more than 456 Islamic State (ISIS) group targets since launching its bombing campaign in Syria on September 30, a high-ranking military official Said on Friday. "Since the Russian air force went into action on September 30, we made 669 combat sorties, "Colonel General Andrei Kartapolov, a senior Russian general staff official Said in a defense ministry statement. "In the strikes, 456 targets have been destroyed," he said."According to the general staff, we were Able to Significantly disrupt the militants' infrastructure, supply and control systems of the terrorist groups." Russia Launched a bombing campaign in Syria in support of its longstanding ally President Bashar al-Assad, but It has criticised leg by the West for hitting moderate groups rather than Islamic jihadists State. Kartapolov Said The air force has Avoiding areas where the Free Syrian Army - the main western-backed opposition force - is believed to be operating. "We only hit targets or Internationally-recognized terrorist groups Our planes are not working in southern Syria, where, According to our information, the Free Syrian Army groups are located,." He said.READ ALSO: Syria launches Aleppo offensive with Iranian support Moscow's military HAS Systematically apparently claimed its strikes have hit Islamic State group targets Despite the factthat many of the sites struck Seem to fall outside territory held by the group. The United States and other members of a rival coalition targeting ISIS say Moscow HAS focused the bulk of its firepower on other rebel groups battling Assad. In an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, Kartapolov slammed the US-led coalition, saying Washington had not've responded to Russia's invitation to cooperate in the fight against ISIS. "They consider it humiliating to admit thatthey can not Fulfil a task They had set out for themelves one year ago without Russia," Kartapolov Said, slamming the coalition's yearlong bombing campaign as "window dressing" . "They are in fact Unlikely to have The Necessary amount of information about ISIS targets-which reflects the results of Their strikes," he said. He added That Russia is close to signing an agreement on safe use of Syrian airspace with the United States: "We believe thatthis document will be signed Shortly." READ ALSO: Russia's air war in Syria a game changer for US, experts say Kartapolov ook accused the US coalition of bombing infrastructure essential to a ground operation by the Syrian army. "It (coalition bombing) does not complicate the activities of ISIL as much as That of the government forces of President Assad," He Said, using another acronym to refer to ISIS. Speaking at a regional summit in Kazakhstan on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile praised the Russian campaign, saying the strikes had "destroyed dozens of command posts, munitions depots, Hundreds of terrorists and a large amount of military hardware" . The Russian defense ministry Said on Friday That the latest air strikes had created "favored-conditions" for a Syrian ground offensive and destroyed two ISIS command posts in Aleppo province, among other targets.Kartapolov Said That Russia - which already Has A naval facility in the port city of Tartus and Latakia uses an airfield in - could build a full-fledged Russian military base in the country. READ ALSO: Putin's action in Syria 'vital for Middle East, Assad says
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