France hits ISIS targets in Syria; Iranian leader killed

The jihadist advance on Friday brought the group to within 20 kilometers of the frontline between rebel forces and the army in Syria’s second city Aleppo, where government forces are stationed in the Sheikh Najjar industrial zone.

“Brig. Gen. Hamedani was martyred by Daesh terrorists during an advisory mission in the suburb of Aleppo” on Thursday afternoon, said a statement from Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps that was read on Iran’s IRNA news agency.

The strikes also destroyed six command posts and communication centres, six ammunition depots, 17 training camps, three underground targets in Latakia, two multiple artillery rocket systems and 17 vehicles and armoured vehicles, among other targets, the military said. It comes amid a wave of Russian airstrikes and a ground offensive by the Syrian army in the country’s central region.

Russian bombardment came in support of a ground assault by Syrian troops and allied militia seeking to push rebels back from the Sahl al-Ghab plain in Hama, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Russian Federation and Iran are both staunch allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Iran has long stationed military advisers in the country.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday that “80 to 90 per cent” of Russian strikes in Syria were aimed at propping up Assad, Moscow’s long-term ally.

Kamli said that the allegations were part of a USA propaganda campaign.

Concerns about clashes between Russian and US or coalition aircraft over Syria have been mounting in recent days, as tensions between Russia and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member Turkey have risen, after alleged incursions by Russian aircraft into Turkish airspace.

Since Russian Federation began air strikes last week it has described all its targets as belonging to the Islamic State group, although most have been in areas controlled by other rebel movements where Islamic State has little or no presence.

ISIS claims to have captured five villages near Aleppo during its current offensive.

With support from Russian air strikes, they appear to be targeting the town of Khan Sheikhun, just across the provincial border in Idlib and on a key highway that runs from Aleppo to Damascus.

Iranian politician Esmail Kosari said Hamadani helped coordination between Syrian armed forces and the voluntary forces in their fight against ISIL. Officials said that they have not received any information supporting such an incident.