Day After Trump Inauguration, Russia Attacks Daesh Targets in Syria With Tu-22M3 Bombers

A day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president, Russian launched one of its deadliest attacks against Islamic State in Syria with six T-22M3 bombers that took off from Russia and dropped bombs at Daesh targets near Dier ez-Zor.

The bombers were covered by Su-30SM and Su-35S fighter jets that flew from Hmeymim air base in a coordinated strike. All aircraft returned to base successfully, the Russian MoD said in a statement.

The attack is seen as a message to the new US dispensation. Trump, during his inauguration speech had spoken about eradicating Islamic terrorism as one of the goals of his presidency. Russia has offered to cooperate with NATO on fighting terrorists in Syria, an offer which had been cold-shouldered by the US and NATO.

However, President Turmp during his election campaign had taken a softer stance against Russia when it came to fighting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq as compared to the previous Obama administration.

The damage to the Islamic State’s weapons and infrastructure from the Russian attack was not known. However the Syrian news agency reported today that the Assad regime army had made progress on the ground by destroying tanks and vehicles belonging to the Islamic state.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had commented yesterday about the silence of international human rights organizations towards the civilians suffering in Deir Ez-zor city which had come under an attack by Islamic State terrorist organization.