Foreign Ministry: Fight against IS is a matter of national security for Russia

Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters that Islamic State gunmen were hiding from Russian airstrikes in mosques. He explained that terrorists knew very well that Russia would "on no condition strike at not military targets".

"We don’t rule out that terrorists may be preparing provocations in this and other settlements — to blast mosques and then demonstrate fake photo and video materials with accusations against Russian aircraft on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," the general said.

MOSCOW, October 6./TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry does not rule out that Islamic State terrorists may blast mosques in Palmyra and other settlements in Syria to blame Russian military aircraft, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Tuesday.

Russian Su-24M warplanes dropped guide bombs at an Islamic State munitions plant in the Syrian province of Damascus, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov added.

The plant was located in the district Ghouta, he noted.

"The facility was hit by guide bombs. Fire followed the bombardment. Objective control data confirm complete destruction of the source supplying terrorists with explosive substances meant to kill personnel and destroy armoured vehicles," he stressed.

Apart from that, Su-25 warplanes delivered an air strike at an Islamic State stronghold at Telu-Dakua in the Damascus province.

"All Russian warplanes returned to the Hmeymim base in Syria after the combat mission," Konashenkov said.

Russia’s warplanes made about 20 sorties and hit 12 Islamic State targets in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Russian Sukhoi-34, Sukhoi-24M and Sukhoi-25 warplanes flew about 20 sorties. Air strikes were delivered at twelve targets of the Islamic State logistics infrastructure, control centers and training bases," Major General Igor Konashenkov, the Defense Ministry Spokesman, said at a briefing at the National Defense Management Center.

Russia’s aerospace forces launched pinpoint strikes against the Islamic State targets in Syria on September 30. The Russian air group in Syria comprises more than 50 warplanes and helicopters. According to Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, air strikes are delivered at military hardware, communications centers, transport vehicles, munitions depots and other terrorist infrastructure facilities. The military operation is conducted at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad.