A number of the ISIL militants' strongholds and ammunition depots in Shamer village and the city of al-Bab were reportedly destroyed by Syrian warplanes, leaving dozens of militants killed or wounded.
Additionally, the Syrian fighter jets launched a series of airstrikes on the militants' positions in the villages of Abu Jaloul, Jub al-Kaf and Tibeh in Aleppo, inflicting heavy losses on the jihadists.
#SYRIA For our people! For Paris! Pilots and technicians of #Hmeymim airbase sent a message to terrorists by airmail pic.twitter.com/8jviPBsHph
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 20 ноября 2015
Additionally, the Syrian bombers staged airstrikes against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists near Rasm al-Abd, Deir Hafer and Najara, leaving many of them dead or injured.
#SYRIA #FOOTAGE Strategic aircraft with cruise missiles refueled at night https://t.co/TJbwP08RJr pic.twitter.com/qmrI3L05L2
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 20 ноября 2015
In a separate development, Russian Air Force warplanes bombed the ISIL-held Jirah Airbase in the eastern part of Aleppo province, killing dozens of militants.
According to sources, it was the first time since the beginning of the Russian air force's aerial operation against ISIL in Syria that the Islamic State positions inside and outside of the Jirah airbase had been heavily bombarded by Russian fighter jets.
#SYRIA #FOOTAGE Combat sorties of long-range aviation on terrorists' objects in Syria https://t.co/eaVIsMjNEe pic.twitter.com/pspIqY4nZd
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 20 ноября 2015
Sources said that the Russian airstrikes on the Jirah airbase may pave the way for the Syrian army's massive ground operation, which is aimed at liberating the third key airbase in the country after Kuweires and Marj al-Sultan airbases in Aleppo and Damascus provinces, respectively.
On September 30, more than fifty Russian aircraft, including Su-24M, Su-25 and Su-34 warplanes, commenced precision airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria at the behest of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad confirmed that Syrian Army strikes, supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces, were being carried out against armed terrorist organizations, not political opposition factions or civilians.
