Russia intensifies air strikes on IS in Syria

Russian warplanes on Saturday carried out over 70 strikes against the positions of the Islamic State (IS) militants in central Syria, pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported.

The strikes targeted the IS positions in the vicinity of the ancient city of Palmyra, the town of Mahin and the al-Shaer oil field in the eastern countryside of the central province of Homs, the report said, describing the airstrikes as "intensified."

Under the heavy Russian airstrikes, the Syrian army advanced and recaptured two mountains and an arm depot near Mahin on Saturday.

The Russian jet fighters also targeted rebel-held areas in the southern province of Daraa with at least 15 airstrikes.

The heavy Russian airstrikes also enabled Syrian army to retake large parts of the al-Zahiyeh mountain in the countryside of the coastal city of Latakia amid a wave of displacement from the targeted areas toward the Turkish borders, according to activist reports.

The strikes are part of intensified air campaign that targeted the IS group in several Syrian areas.

Russian airstrikes have started pounding the IS positions in Syria since late last September, with the government officials hailing the Russian effort as serious in targeting the IS militants across the conflict-stricken country.

The recent Russian intensification of airstrikes aims to enable Syrian troops to advance against IS and other militant groups in key Syrian areas, like Latakia countryside, Aleppo and Homs. Endit