Russian long-range bombers strike terrorist targets in Syria

Six Russian TU22M3 strategic long-range bombers have launched strikes against positions of Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in three locations in Syria, Russian defense ministry said Tuesday.

"The airstrike was made against targets identified and confirmed through intelligence channels in recent days," a ministry statement said.

It added that a large IS field camp, three ammunition depots, three tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed, also killing a large number of militants.

The ministry noted that to ensure flight safety, the U.S.-led international coalition had been warned of the attacks in advance.

All planes returned safely and landed in their airfields located in Russia, it said.

Russia started airstrikes against terrorist targets in Syria at the request of the country's President Bashar al-Assad in September last year, with its aircraft deployed at a local airbase, while also using long-range bombers and missiles from Russian Navy ships in the Caspian sea.

In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of most of its air force from Syria, but Russia kept striking terrorist targets and maintained military coordination with the U.S.-led coalition forces.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier in the day urged to resume the intra-Syrian talks brokered by U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura with a view to peacefully settle the Syrian crisis.

Lavrov added that related issues would be discussed with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who will visit Russia from July 14 to 15.

"We will try to coordinate the common approach that should be based on absolutely clear and unambiguous principles outlined in the UN Security Council resolutions," Lavrov said as quoted by an official transcript. Endi