Russian Federation Denies US Claim That Four Syria-Bound Missiles Crashed in Iran

Although Moscow admitted it struck non-ISIL targets, calling them “other” terrorist groups, it continues to assert that there have been no Syrian civilian casualties during any of its operations.

If confirmed, the crashes would be a blow to the military strength Russian Federation aimed to display in launching what it said were 26 missiles at Islamic State targets in Syria a few 1,500 km (900 miles) from the Caspian Sea on Wednesday.

Russia’s defence ministry also denied the reports. Over the past week, Russian Federation has directed parts of its air campaign against U.S.-funded groups and other moderate opposition in a concerted effort to weaken them, the officials say.

In a photo released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the flight crew of an Su-30 fighter are seen at their air base near Latakia, in northwest Syria.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter earlier this week said Russia’s “tragically flawed” strategy in Syria increasingly appears to involve propping up the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against rebel forces.

The missile launches were in support of a major ground offensive by the Syrian army on several fronts in the war-torn country’s west.

Russian strikes hit northern areas of Latakia province, the coastal heartland of Assad’s Alawite minority sect, as well as northern areas of Hama province further east, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

It was the second French strike on Syria, and Le Drian said “it will not be the last”.

The observatory also reported a large explosion on the outskirts of the town of Al-Bab, which is an IS stronghold.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Moscow’s military action in Syria is endangering trade ties with his country, saying Ankara could look elsewhere for gas supplies and cancel the construction of its first nuclear power plant, which is being built by Russian Federation.

The Pentagon said on Friday it expected to hold new talks with Russia’s military on pilot safety in Syria’s war as soon as this weekend, as the former Cold War foes seek to avoid an accidental clash as they carry out rival bombing campaigns.