Syria: Base with T-55 tanks among 9 ISIS facilities Russia hit in last 24 hours – Defense Ministry (VIDEO)

October 5, 2015 By administrator

Dmitriy Vinogradov/RIA Novosti

RT Report The Russian Air Force in Syria has conducted 25 sorties on 9 Islamic State installations in the last 24 hours, eliminating a disguised terrorist base equipped with tanks, a command center and a communication hub, the Defense Ministry reported.

Russian bombers taking off from Khmeimim airbase knocked out a terrorist base hidden in the woods near the city of Idlib, eliminating 30 vehicles, among which were several Soviet-made T-55 tanks.

“Six airstrikes hit the base, and the terrorists’ equipment was fully destroyed,” Konashenkov said.

An IS command post in Latakia province was completely destroyed with a pinpoint strike from a Russian bomber, with fire breaking out at the site.

In Homs province three airstrikes on terrorist infrastructures took out two arms depots. An Islamic State command post near the city of Al-Rastan was also destroyed.

“As a result of a direct hit, a communications center has been eliminated. Reconnaissance confirms the facility is no longer functional,” Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

“Last night, aerial reconnaissance conducted by Sukhoi Su-24M bombers hit a terrorist artillery rocket-launching position near the city of Jisr al-Shughur. An accurate airstrike resulted in the detonation of munitions and vehicles,” he added. Also, Russian UAVs spotted an artillery position in Idlib province.

“An airstrike conducted by Sukhoi Su-25 ground-support fighters destroyed three artillery pieces and a field munitions depot.”

All airstrikes performed by the Russian Air Force aim “to disorganize control systems and deteriorate logistic support systems of the terrorists,” he reported.

Altogether nine installations used by terrorists have been destroyed by Russian airstrikes in the last 24 hours.

Russian-made fighter jet harasses Turkish F-16s over Turkey’s Syrian border

October 5, 2015 By administrator

A Russian-made MIG-29 fighter jet put two Turkish F-16 jets under radar lock on Turkish-Syrian border on Monday, the Turkish military has announced.

In a written statement issued on its website on Monday, the military said 10 F-16s scrambled to patrol the Turkish-Syrian border. During this mission, a MIG-29 placed two Turkish F-16s under radar lock for five minutes and 40 seconds. The military said it has not yet determined which country the MIG-29 belongs to.

Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Monday a Russian warplane violated Turkish airspace near the Syrian border, prompting Ankara to scramble two F-16 jets to intercept it and summon Moscow’s ambassador in protest.

“[It] exited Turkish airspace into Syria after it was intercepted by two F-16s from the Turkish Air Force that were conducting patrols in the region,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Moscow’s ambassador to protest the violation and urged Russia against any repeat, warning it would be held “responsible for any undesired incident that may occur.”

Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu had spoken with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, as well as key NATO partners, the statement said.

Russian warplane violated Turkish airspace near Syria – foreign office

October 5, 2015 By administrator

A Russian fighter aircraft violated Turkish airspace at 12:08 a.m. on Oct. 3 in the southern district of Yayladağı in Hatay province, the Hurriyet Daily News reports referring to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

“The Russian aircraft exited Turkish airspace into Syria after it was intercepted by two F-16s from the Turkish Air Force, which were conducting patrols in the region,” a written statement said Oct. 5.

The ministry summoned the ambassador of Russia in Ankara, Andrey Karlov, and strongly protested the violation, read the statement.

The ministry demanded that any such violation not be repeated and asserted that, otherwise, Russia would be responsible for any undesired incident that could occur, it added.

Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu also called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to lodge a protest.

Sinirlioğlu also conducted telephone calls with his U.S., French, Italian and British counterparts to evaluate the situation. He also plans to consult with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and his German counterpart.

A Russian warplane on a bombing run in Syria flew within five miles of the Turkish border, U.S. media reported on Oct. 4.

A Turkish security official reportedly said Turkish radar locked onto the Russian aircraft as it was bombing early Oct. 2 in al-Yamdiyyah, a Syrian village directly on the Turkish border. He said Turkish fighter jets would have attacked had it crossed into Turkish airspace.

A U.S. military official suggested the incident had come close to sparking an armed confrontation. Reading from a report, he said the Russian aircraft had violated Turkish air space by five miles and that Turkish jets had been scrambled, but that the Russian aircraft had returned to Syrian airspace before they could respond.

Syria: Watch Russian jets annihilating Daesh “Islamic State” targets in Syria VIDEO’S

October 4, 2015 By administrator

Over the last 24 hours, Russia’s fighter jets have launched 10 attacks on Daesh Takfiri terrorist positions in Syria, the country’s Defense Ministry says.

A Sunday report by the ministry announced that a number of arms depots along with a bomb workshop, and a Takfiri training center were among the targets. Watch some of the combat cam footage below.

Jets target a Takfiri training camp in the northwestern Idlib province:

An arms and munitions depot is destroyed with precision bombs in Idlib’s Jisr al-Shughur:

Syrians View Russians as Heroes – British Journalist

October 4, 2015 By administrator

British journalist Lindsey Hilsum argues that many Syrians hold Russian President Vladimir Putin for their friend and see Russians as saviors.

Residents in the Syrian cities of Tartous and Latakia believe that Russia’s military operation against the ISIL terrorist group would put the war in the country to an end, the British journalist wrote.

Moreover, they believe that the US is to blame for strengthening of the terrorists and their allies.

According to Hilsum, most people living in the territories under control of the Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad say that they are ready to serve in the governmental army, but hope that the war will come soon to an end and that the military mobilization would stop.

According to Hilsum, Syrians are welcoming Russians who started military operation in the country after Assad’s official request.

“The Russians are the heroes of the hour. People greet the few foreigners who visit with a cheerful Russian “Dobry den!” and shout out their enthusiasm for President Putin, who they believe will deliver them from terrorism,” Hilsum wrote in the Guardian.

Russia air strikes in Syria worrying: Turkish president Erdogan

October 4, 2015 By administrator

Turkey’s president has expressed concern over Russia’s bombing campaign against terrorists in Syria as Moscow says its airstrikes have inflicted severe damage on the Daesh Takfiri group.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Russia’s actions in Syria are “worrying and disturbing.”

“The steps Russia is taking and the bombing campaign in Syria are quite unacceptable to Turkey,” he added.

The Turkish president acknowledged that Russia’s airstrikes against the Western-backed militants, who are fighting the government in Syria, have “saddened” him.

Erdogan’s remarks came after the Russian defense ministry announced Russian forces have intensified their anti-militancy operations in Syria.

“Over the past 24 hours SU-34, SU-24M and SU-25 jets made 20 sorties,” it said.

Russia’s SU-25 jets have targeted a training camp in the northwestern Idlib Province and “destroyed the terrorists’ hideouts and a workshop making makeshift explosive devices including ‘suicide belts’,” it said.

“From the airbase of Hmeimim, the Russian aviation group is continuing to ramp up air strikes using high-precision missiles against the ISIS (Daesh) facilities in Syria,” it said.

The base of Hmeimim is situated in Latakia Province on the Mediterranean coast.

The defense ministry said its warplanes had used powerful concrete-buster munitions in its precision-targeting operations against Daesh.

“Four command posts of ISIS armed groups have been destroyed with the help of concrete-piercing BETAB-500 bombs,” said the defense ministry.

SU-34 bombers attacked a Daesh training camp and ammunition depot in Raqa Province, dropping guided bombs and destroying the camp, the ministry said.

The Russian raids have drawn criticism from Western governments and their allies in the Middle East, which have been supporting the militants operating in the region.

Russia, however, has dismissed the Western propaganda against its military offensive, saying its airstrikes, which began on Wednesday, are only targeting terrorists such as Daesh and al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Russian Air Force destroys ISIS command center, training camp

October 2, 2015 By administrator

On Thursday, Russian warplanes stationed in Syria attacked a terrorist training camp and a command center, taking it out with a precision strike launched form an altitude of over 5,000 meters, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

The airstrike was one of a dozen conducted by Russia in Syria on Thursday during 18 sorties, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, the ministry spokesman, told journalists. Advanced Sukhoi Su-25 and Su-34s were used for strikes.

“The targeting systems of those planes allows for hitting ground targets with absolute precision, which was proven yesterday during combat missions targeting ISIS infrastructure,” he said. “We can use this type of aircraft to deliver strikes anywhere in Syria.”

Overnight, the Russian Air Force conducted 10 sorties and hit seven targets in Syria, Konashenkov said. Over the 24 hours the planes bombed a field camp in Aleppo province, a logistics center in Idlib province and a command point at a fortified facility in Hama province.

The general reiterated calls to take with a grain of salt reports of alleged Russian strikes on residential areas and targets not belonging to terrorist groups coming from some sources in Syria.

“Those sensationalized fakes are complete nonsense and have no factual basis and do not merit any discussions,” he said. “They were prepared even before the operation started.”

Russia started airstrikes on terrorist targets in Syria on Wednesday at the request of President Bashar Assad’s government. The goal is to provide air support for Syrian troops fighting Islamic State.

Baghdad says would welcomes Russia strikes in Iraq

October 1, 2015 By administrator

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (AFP Photo)

Shortly after Russia launched airstrikes against militants in Syria, Iraq announces that it would also welcome any such military measures by Moscow on its soil.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told France 24 television on Thursday that he had been receiving “massive information” from both Syria and Russia on the Daesh Takfiri militant group.

When asked if he had discussed with Russia airstrikes in his country, Abadi said, “Not yet,” adding, “It is a possibility. If we get the offer we will consider it and I would welcome it.”

Meanwhile, senior Russian foreign ministry official Ilya Rogachev said that his country would consider launching the strikes if it gets “such a request from the Iraqi government or a Security Council resolution that depends decisively on the will of the Iraq government.”

In summer 2014, Daesh expanded its militancy from Syria to Iraq by capturing some key urban areas in north and later in the west of the country.

The Iraqi army has managed to push back the group from some northern territories, including from Tikrit, the capital of the Salahuddin province. Military operations are under way to purge the militants from Ramadi and Mosul, two major bastions of Daesh in west and north.

Moscow announced earlier in the day that it has appointed Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko to represent Russia at a joint intelligence task force in Baghdad, which also includes Iran and Syria.

Rogachyov also ruled out Russia joining a US-led coalition purportedly targeting Daesh positions in the Iraq.

“Theoretically, it would look nice (to join the US-led coalition) from a political point of view, but I think that we have difficulty understanding the principles on which the coalition is acting,” Rogachyov said, adding, “On the basis that the coalition currently exists, we are unlikely to join.”

Russian defense ministry announced that it had sent more than 50 military aircraft as well as marines, paratroopers and special forces into Syria. It came just one day after it started to pound positions of Daesh across Syria.

Turkey ‘concerned’

Turkey’s foreign minister expressed concerns over Russia’s air strikes in Syria.

“We are very much concerned at reports that yesterday’s air operation by Russia is not targeting Daesh but some opposition positions and civilian casualties have also occurred during these operations,” said Feridun Sinirlioğlu.

He said the Russian attacks will “lead to further escalation and this is the last thing we need in this very tragic and caustic situation in Syria.”

“This will add up to the problems in Syria, not will be helpful or finding solution to this now long overdue suffering of the Syrian people,” said Sinirlioğlu.

Turkey is among countries suspected of supporting the Daesh militants operating inside Syria.

Source: presstv

Russian Air Force in Syria deploying over 50 planes & choppers – Defense Ministry

October 1, 2015 By administrator

Russia’s Air Force fleet in Syria includes over 50 warplanes and helicopters, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry said, reporting eight overnight sorties.

TrendsRussian anti-terror op in Syria

Previously Russia hadn’t revealed any detail of its contingent in Syria, which started an aerial campaign on Wednesday to help the Syrian Army fight against terrorist troops.

“The air group was deployed on very short notice. It was possible because we had most of the materiel and ammunition ready at our depot in Tartus. We only had to move our aircraft and deliver some extra equipment,” spokesperson for the Russian Defense Ministry Igor Konashenkov told the media.

The fleet includes the latest Su-24M and Su-25 ground attack planes, he said.

The airstrikes on Wednesday night targeted four Islamic State facilities, Konashenkov said.

“A terrorist HQ and an ammunition depot were destroyed near Idlib, as were a fortified three-level command center near Hama,” he said. “A direct bomb hit also completely destroyed a workshop north of Homs that produced explosives and ammunition,” he added, saying that at this workshop terrorists were stuffing vehicles with explosives. Those vehicles were then used to conduct terror attacks.

The night sorties raise the number of targets hit by Russia in Syria in the first 24 hours of the operation to 12.

“All the airstrikes are being conducted in coordination with the Syrian Army command. The Syrian Defense Ministry has deployed an operative group at the Hmaimim air base,” the Russian official said, referring to the airfield near near Basel al-Assad international airport south of Latakia, where the Russian forces are based.

Source: RT

Russia admits to targeting a ‘list’ of militants in Syria, not just IS

October 1, 2015 By administrator

Reacting to criticism that it is targeting opponents of the Syrian government, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted on Thursday, October 1, that Russia’s airstrikes in Syria are targeting not only Islamic State militants but also other groups, the Associated Press reports.

Russia on Wednesday carried out its first airstrikes in Syria in what President Vladimir Putin called a pre-emptive strike against the militants. Twenty airstrikes destroyed a command center of Islamic State militants as well as ammunition depots, the defense ministry said.

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that Russia was going after IS militants as well as a “list” of other groups.

“These organizations are well known and the targets are chosen in coordination with the armed forces of Syria,” he said, without giving specific names.

Sergei Ivanov, Putin’s chief of staff, said on Wednesday that “the operation’s target is solely air support for the Syrian government forces in their fight against the ISIS.”

Speaking later in the day, Putin said Russia would be fighting “gangs of international terrorists” and then went on to talk about IS.

Asked Thursday whether Putin was satisfied with the way the Russian campaign was going, Peskov said it was “too early” to say.

In Paris, Russian Ambassador Alexander Orlov insisted that Russian warplanes in Syria were hitting at the same extremists targeted by the United States and denied American claims that its military failed to coordinate the airstrikes, describing the allegations as a “war of disinformation.”

Photo: AFP