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Russia's Defense Ministry Releases Footage Showing Airstrikes on Syria

Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday, the Russian defense ministry said. Local Syrian activists reported that the strikes hit rebel-controlled parts of Homs and Hama provinces, causing a number of casualties. Russian defense officials said the strikes targeted Islamic State fighters, however US officials said that the militant group does not operate in the areas of Syria that were targeted.

Syrian state media reported that, “Russian aircraft, in cooperation with the Syrian army’s air force, launched on Wednesday a number of airstrikes against ISIS dens in Rastan, Talbisah, al-Zaafran, al-Tolol al-Humr, Aydon, Deir Fol and the area surrounding Salmia in the central region in Syria.” The Islamic State are not known to be active in Rastan or Talibseh.

Russia’s defense ministry said airstrikes hit eight Islamic State targets in an official statement on the operation. The first airstrike pictured in this footage was geolocated to the village of Al-Lataminah, in Hama province, which is not occupied by Islamic State fighters, according to reports. Credit: Facebook/Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation