Russian air force struck 53 targets in Syria in last 24 hours

Russia's air force hit 53 targets in Syria in the past 24 hours, the defence ministry said on Monday, as Moscow continues a bombing campaign it says is aimed against Daesh jihadist group.

Russian jets conducted strikes in the provinces of Hamas, Homs, Latakia and Idlib and destroyed "militant" command posts, defensive positions, training camps and ammunition depots, the ministry said in a statement.

It said the bombing raids had severely disrupted supply chains for Daesh fighters.

"In recent days, the militants are making desperate attempts at smuggling ammunition, weapons, fuel and military materials from the Raqa province to the front line with the Syrian army," the ministry said.

"Strikes conducted by Russian warplanes have destroyed a considerable portion of their weapons, ammunition and fuel for military equipment."

The ministry had said Saturday that the strikes were demoralising fighters, who it claims were abandoning combat positions and retreating to the east and northeast of Syria.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated at a press conference  Moscow's readiness to work with Syria's main Western-backed opposition group, the Free Syrian Army, to find a political solution to the crisis.

President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said the goal of the Russian intervention was to "stabilise the legitimate authorities and create conditions for finding a political compromise".
Source: AFP