Iranian Fighter Jets Escort Russian Long-Range Bombers to Syria

In its bombing campaign, Moscow has fired cruise missiles from warships in the Caspian Sea that passed over northern Iraq en route to their targets in Syria, most recently on Friday.

Russian naval forces participating in the operation consisted of 10 ships, with six in the Mediterranean Sea and the other four in the Caspian Sea.

The Russians released video of their ships firing cruise missiles toward ISIS targets in Syria, and that video can be viewed above, on this page, courtesy of The Guardian newspaper.

But President Vladimir Putin said the current level of attacks was not enough to defeat so-called Islamic State (IS).

The resolution, which does not provide a legal basis for military action, urges those countries who can to “take all necessary measures, in compliance with worldwide law… on the territory under the control of ISIL…in Syria and Iraq”.

“There are fears for the aircraft and passengers due to Russian missiles”, said Talar Faeq, director general of Erbil airport.

“We have been informed by Baghdad to halt the flights because of Russian jets attacking Daesh (ISIS) in Syria”.

France has also joined in the air strikes, attacking the IS stronghold of Raqqa this week.

“And it begs the question of whether Russian Federation is firing cruise missiles into Syria from Iranian airspace”.

“We will find them anywhere on the planet and punish them”, he said.

Syrian President Bashar Assad says his forces are advancing on “almost” all fronts thanks to Russian airstrikes that began nearly two months ago and have tipped the balance in his favor in some parts of the country.

Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu said 18 long-range missiles were launched on seven IS targets in the Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo provinces on 20 November.

Russia continues to beef up their frequency and bombing, destroying oil facilities and tankers controlled by ISIS, thus cutting into their income, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

During his meeting with senior officials of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow on Friday, President Putin said the current operations will be intensified.