Aircraft of the international coalition inflicted 12 powerful strikes in five provinces of Syria between Monday and Wednesday, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov noted that Russia has been accused of targeting areas which "never had terrorist groups" amid a tentative preparation for talks, an allegation he called absurd. Konashenkov countered allegations previously voiced by US Secretary of State John Kerry, noting that the US-led coalition has continued its strikes while condemning Russia's.
"This is especially true of targets engaged outside Raqqa, where aviation of the so-called anti-ISIL coalition supposedly does not fly and does not bomb," Konashenkov told reporters.
Kerry previously said that he demanded of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Russia halt its airstrikes in Syria amid a partial ceasefire.
