Russia says it intensifies strikes against IS oil facilities in Syria

Russian armed forces have intensified strikes against oil-producing and refining facilities of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

In the last two days, Russian warplanes launched 141 attacks, which have hit 474 targets, including oil refineries, storage facilities and trains carrying fuel tanks, said the ministry in a statement.

Main efforts were concentrated on undermining the finance and economic capacity of the IS, which would prevent daily supplies of 60,000 tons of oil worth 1.5 million U.S. dollars flowing to the black market, the statement added.

The Russian air force and navy have ratcheted up raids against IS targets in Syria since last Tuesday after Moscow identified the Oct. 31 Russian plane crash over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula a terrorist attack.

According to the ministry, the number of aircraft deployed in Syria has been doubled to 69 units and the campaign has been enhanced by strategic bombers taking off from Russian territory.

Russian naval forces participating in the operation consisted of 10 ships, with six in the Mediterranean Sea and the other four in the Caspian Sea.

The ministry also said that Russian forces in Syria has started cooperation with the French armed forces.

France has reportedly sent the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean to step up strikes in retaliation for the terrorist attacks in Paris that killed at least 129 people.

French President Francois Hollande is expected to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on Thursday to discuss counter-terror cooperation. Endi