BEIRUT (AP) — The Russian military says that its long-range bombers and cruise missiles have struck the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.
The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said that six Tu-22M bombers on Friday unloaded bombs on IS targets near Boukamal. He said two Russian submarines in the Mediterranean also launched six cruise missiles at IS targets.
Konashenkov said the strikes hit groups of IS militants and the group’s ammunition depots. He added they were launched in support of the Syrian army offensive in the area.
The strikes followed several other bombing raids and missile launches earlier this week on the same area.
The raids by long-range bombers that flew from their base in Russia came in addition to daily sorties flown by Russian warplanes based in Syria.