Russian airstrikes destroy IS command center: Defense Ministry

MOSCOW - Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed Saturday that its latest airstrikes in Syria destroyed a command center of the extremist group Islamic State (IS).

"Russian warplanes have carried out more than 20 flights to attack nine IS sites in Syria over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in an online press release.

"Surgical strikes carried out by Su-34 fighter bombers near the town of Raqqa (an IS stronghold in northern Syria) destroyed a command post of the IS gangs," according to the press release.

An underground bunker with a warehouse of explosives and ammunition was also destroyed during the strikes, it said.

The airstrikes, which included six sorties, were launched late Friday and early Saturday, targeting three IS terrorist infrastructure sites.

The ministry added that sorties made by Su-24M bombers destroyed military equipment and weapon depots, as well as logistics facilities, of IS militants in Idlib Province.

Meanwhile, terrorist fortifications, ammunition depots, fuel and lubricant materials as well as seven pieces of military hardware were struck by Russian aircraft.

Along with the statement were two video footage released by the ministry, which were taken by camera drones monitoring the results of airstrike missions in the Raqqa and Jisr al-Shughour cities of Idlib Province.

The ministry stressed that high-precision weapons like KAB-500 bombs were only used to target the IS control centers, ammunition and fuel storage sites as well as weapon workshops.

Russia started airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday after the Russian Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, granted President Vladimir Putin the right to send troops abroad following a request by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Over 50 Russian aircraft and combat helicopters have been deployed at Syria's Hmeymim airbase, located close to the port of Latakia. The base is guarded by a battalion of marines and is protected by a group of Russian warships from the sea.