Over 50 aircraft, helicopters involved in Russian airstrikes against ISIS/ISIL

More than 50 warplanes and helicopters are part of an air group of Russia’s Aerospace Forces conducting airstrikes on the positions of the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria, Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov has said.

"The air group was deployed in the shortest time. We managed to do that as the main materiel supplies and ammunition were in the material-technical facility in Tartus. We only had to relocate aviation and bring some equipment," Konashenkov said.

Russia’s Aerospace Forces launched the operation against the Islamic State gunmen in Syria on Wednesday.

Russia’s upper house unanimously gave the president approval to use the Russian Armed Forces abroad earlier that day. Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov noted "it was solely the operation of the Russian Air Force" against Islamic State terrorist group in Syria at the request of President Bashar Assad.

As Gen. Igor Konashenkov told the journalists, modernized Su-24M and Su-25 fighter jets are deployed in the aviation unit of Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces formed in Syria.

"More than 20 sorties were made targeting eight facilities of ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - former name of Islamic State terrorist organization] terrorist groups. Modernized Su-24M and Su-25 jets with modern aiming systems were among the aircraft that made sorties," Konashenkov said.

Last night, the Russian Aerospace Forces attacked four Islamic State facilities in Syria.

"Strikes were made during the night on 4 facilities of Islamic State. The Sukhoi Su-24M frontline bombers and Su-25 attack aircraft made eight sorties," he said.
Battalion task group of Marines guarding airbase in Syria where Russian aerospace forces are deployed

According to the spokesman, a Marines’ battalion task group with reinforcements is guarding the airbase in Syria where the group of the Russian Aerospace Forces is deployed.

"A battalion task group of the Marines with reinforcements is engaged in the airbase guarding and defense," Konashenkov said.

He said that the air group of Russia’s Aerospace Forces was deployed at the Hmeimim airbase in the area of Latakia.

Russia actively uses space reconnaissance, drones in Syria

The official also said the air group of Russia’s Aerospace Forces in Syria has been actively using reconnaissance satellites and drones in order to identify the locations of terrorist forces and receive feedback data showing whether the attacks were effective enough.

"To obtain authentic information about the locations of terrorists and the results of fire attacks satellite intelligence means and remote-controlled aircraft are being used," he said.
[tass.ru]
1/10/15
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