Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria Carry Out 1,268 Sorties in Month – MoD

Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a total of 1,268 sorties in Syria over the past month, destroying 3,200 terrorist targets, Commander of the Russian military group in Syria Col. Gen. Sergei Surovikin said on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On May 4, Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum on the establishment of safe zones in war-torn Syria as part of the the Astana talks on Syrian settlement. The four zones include the northwestern Idlib province and parts of the neighboring Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces, the north of the central Homs province, eastern Ghouta near Damascus and certain parts in the country's southern Deraa and Quneitra provinces.

"Aircraft of Russian Aerospace Forces carried out 1,268 sorties, with group and concentrated strikes destroying 3,200 terrorist targets, including control stations, weapons and ammunition storehouses, transfer bases and training camps," Surovikin said at a press briefing.

The memorandum on these de-escalation zones took effect on May 6.

The agreement between Moscow, Tehran and Ankara presumes the cessation of airstrikes and combat actions between the Syrian Army and militants who have already joined or will join the ceasefire regime, according to Chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy.

The deal was discussed earlier this week during talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi.