Russia says it fired 10 missiles at IS in Syria
The Russian Defense Ministry says its submarines HAVE fired 10 cruise missiles at Islamic State positions outside the eastern Syrian town of Mayadeen, one of the last major IS strongholds in the country.
Russia has been a major backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces and has helped government troops gain significant ground from opposition fighters and militant groups in the war.
The ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement that the Kalibr missiles killed an unspecified number of IS fighters and destroyed major ammunition depots and command posts.
Konashenkov said the missiles were launched from the Veliky Novgorod and the Kolpino submarines in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday.
Syrian troops with the help of Russian air cover have been closing in on Mayadeen, which has become a main IS hub for militants and the group's leaders after its former strongholds of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour have come under attack.
