Russian airstrikes in Syria destroy 9 IS posts: Defense Ministry

A frame grab taken from footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry October 5, 2015, shows smoke rising after airstrikes carried out by the country's air force in Syria.[Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Russian air force stationed in Syria has conducted 25 new missions in the last 24 hours hitting nine facilities of Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, the Russian Defense ministry said Monday.

One command center was destroyed in Syria's central province of Hama and another near Syria's main coastal city of Latakia, according to an online ministry statement accompanied by a video footage.

Also two ammunition depots and a communications center were blown up in the central province of Homs, as well as a terrorist training camp in the northwestern province of Idlib.

Three artillery pieces, around 30 automobiles and armored vehicles including T-55 tanks earlier seized by the IS from the Syrian Army, were demolished in the operation, the statement said.

Russian Su-34, Su-24M and Su-25 aircraft deployed at the Hmaimim airbase near Latakia participated in the missions, the statement said.

"All strikes are directed at the disorganization of the command and the destruction of the system of material and technical support of the terrorists," the ministry said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday noted that Moscow and Washington have maintained high-level contacts for military operations in Syria.

Lavrov added that the IS is the enemy of all states and nations including the Islamic world, stressing that the problem of terrorism and extremism should be addressed "in a comprehensive way."

Russian warplanes started on Wednesday its airstrikes against rebel positions in several Syrian areas, marking the first Russian military involvement in the war on terrorist groups in Syria.

Russian air forces consisting of 50 aircraft have performed over 80 missions, destroying around 50 terrorist facilities since Wednesday, according to the Defense Ministry reports.