MOSCOW(Sputnik) – Tuesday’s large-scale attack on Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) jihadist group targets in Syria was part of a routine Russian Aerospace Forces operation and should not be interpreted as retribution for the downing of its military helicopter last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.
"The Russian Aerospace Forces operation is continuing. All this is carried out in the framework of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ ongoing operations," Peskov told reporters.
Six Tu-22M3 strategic long-range bombers launched from Russia destroyed the Daesh’ high-explosive munitions across three locations in Syria, including Palmyra, on Tuesday. Among the destroyed targets identified and confirmed through intelligence channels were a large Daesh field camp, three arms depots, three tanks and a large number of militants.
Last Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said two of its military instructor pilots were killed when their Mi-25 helicopter was shot down by Daesh militants.
