MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Aleppo has seen intense fighting over the past few months, with the Syrian army and local militia forces having managed to encircle large groups of terrorists in some districts of the city.
"These aircraft have performed in southern and south-western suburbs of the city [of Aleppo], where the terrorists’ main offensive was directed at. The targets there were the militants’ camps, command posts and convoys, including armored vehicles," Hassan said.
He stressed that the Russian Su-24M2 aircraft are highly effective and have helped target the terrorists’ logistical facilities.
"If we talk about the geography of the aircraft use, besides Aleppo, Su-24M2s have actively worked on targets in the provinces of Idlib and Hama, from where the terrorists based in Aleppo get all the necessary supplies," the general said.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups. On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups such as Daesh, as well as Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or al-Nusra Front) are not part of the deal. Both groups are banned in Russia and a range of other countries.