Russian airstrikes target several jihadi positions across Syria: report

Russian airstrikes targeted several positions of jihadi groups across Syria on Monday, the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported.

"Massive explosions" were heard as a result of the Russian airstrikes against the positions of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front in Kafr Halab and Base 46 in the countryside of northern province of Aleppo, said the report.

Russian warplanes also struck targets of rebels of Jaish al-Fateh, or the Conquer Army, outside the Koerse airbase, which has been besieged by the rebels for a long time in Aleppo, the report said.

In the central province of Homs, Russian airstrikes targeted positions of Islamic State (IS) militants in Qaryatain and Jabal Batra areas, in the eastern part of the province.

Air raids also pounded areas in eastern side of the mountainous region of Qalamoun, north of capital Damascus, near Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the state news agency SANA, citing the Russian defense ministry, said 25 Russian airstrikes targeted nine IS positions across Syria over the past 24 hours.

It added that the Syrian air force also struck IS positions in the eastern countryside of Aleppo and in the city of Bab near the Turkish border.

SANA said Syrian military operations in Aleppo killed hundreds of rebels on Sunday.

The Russian warplanes started on Wednesday its airstrikes against rebel positions in several Syrian areas, marking the first Russian military involvement in the war on terrorist groups in Syria.

Damascus has confirmed that the Russian air raids came upon the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to SANA.

Moscow has recently amplified its assistance to the Syrian military forces, and Russian officials promised more of such aid, including specialists, to Damascus.

Russia says the increase in military supplies aims to combat terrorism in accordance with international law. Endit