Six Russian Tu-22M3 bombers carried out on Monday airstrikes against new ISIL targets in Syria’s Deir Ezzor province destroying two command posts, arms depots, a large number of military equipment and terrorists, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

“On January 30, 2017, six strategic Tu-22M3 bombers took off in Russia, flew over Iraq and Iran, and carried out a group air attack on new ISIL targets in the Deir Ezzor province,” it reads.

“The destruction of all designated targets has been confirmed by the means of objective monitoring,” the ministry said.

“Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters, which had taken off from the Hmeymim airbase in Syria, provided air cover for the bombers,” it added.

Commenting on the development of the situation in the area, the Russian General Staff said that if terrorists capture Deir Ezzor, civilians will be subjected to genocide and the population may be completely exterminated.

The city of Deir Ezzor, which is still held by Syrian government forces, has been under ISIL’s siege since July 2014. The residents of Deir Ezzor and the servicemen receive food only via planes delivering humanitarian aid.

Source: Sputnik