Russian Warplanes Launch 97 Cruise Missiles In Syria

The Russian Aerospace Forces have launched 97 cruise missiles hitting Daesh targets in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

Since the beginning of the Russian aerial campaign in Syria, Russian warplanes have carried out 5,662 sorties, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by Sputnik.

Over 100 days of the Russian military operation, 217 populated areas in Syria have been liberated from terrorists, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said, adding that the Russian Aerospace Forces will begin humanitarian operations in Syria.

"In December 2015, militants were driven from 134 cities and towns and from 19 settlements more in the first days of the new year," Lieutenant General Sergey Rudskoy was quoted as saying by TASS last week.

Since the beginning of New Year, Russia has carried about 1000 airstrikes. "A total of 311 sorties have been made over the first 10 days of 2016 during which strikes were delivered at 1,097 facilities in the provinces of Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakeh, Deraa and Raqqa," Rudskoy said.