The Russian Defense Ministry has once again released footage of its long-range bombers successfully conducting aerial strikes, on what Moscow said were “Islamic State targets, near the town of Albu Kamal, located in Syria’s Deir al-Zor province.” The statement revealed that six Russian TU-22M3 bombers took off from bases in Russia and overflew Iran and Iraq before launching the strikes in Syria. The ministry said, “the planes had bombed Islamic State supply depots, militants, and armored vehicles” and that “satellite and drone surveillance had confirmed that all of the designated targets had been destroyed.” An intelligence analyst monitoring the Russian involvement in the Syrian conflict told TV7 that “The Russian air-strike, which was the second time this month in which Moscow has used its long-range strategic bombers, has once again shown Russia’s resolve to provide the Assad regime with a strategic advantage.” The analyst, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not permitted to talk on the matter, claimed that Russia’s latest actions indicate “Moscow has decided to step-up its efforts to assure that the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad, together with its allies, would create a reality on the ground that would provide Damascus with leverage, during a much anticipated internationally-backed political process, that would ultimately allow President Assad to secure his rule over the war-torn-country.”
