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Russian military starts major anti-terror offensive in Syria: defense minister

Xinhua, November 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Russian military launched on Tuesday a large-scale offensive against terrorist targets in Syria with the participation for the first time of the country's aircraft carrier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

The major operation conducted large-scale strikes against the Islamic State and Nusra Front in the provinces of Idlib and Homs, Shoigu said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the top brass of the country's Armed Forces.

Russia's sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov has joined in combat action for the first time in the history of the Russian Navy, according to the minister.

Another vessel of the Russian naval group in the Mediterranean, the Admiral Grigorovich frigate, has fired Kalibr cruise missiles against terrorist positions, Shoigu said.

The Bastion coastal defense missile systems were also used in the campaign, he said, adding that terrorist facilities producing toxic substances were among the main targets of the intensive strikes. Endi