Russian strikes help Syrian rebels free 20 areas from ISIS control

The Russian Air Force has helped the Syrian Democratic Forces liberate 20 residential areas from Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL) around the city of Raqqa, the extremist groups’ stronghold, a Russian military spokesman said.

READ MORE: Captured ISIS fighter says 'trained in Turkey, ISIS thinks it’s safer here than Syria'

Assisted by Russian air support, the Syrian Democratic Forces have made significant progress in IS-controlled areas in Syria, according to the head of the Russian General Staff’s operations department, Lieutenant-General Sergey Rudskoy.

“The troops of the Syrian Democratic Forces, commanded by Ayman Flyat el-Ganim, with the support of the Russian Air Force, conducted an offensive toward the ISIS capital, Raqqa. As a result of this offensive, approximately 20 residential areas were liberated from extremists. Strategic control was established over the important dam on the river Euphrates at al-Ahmar,” Rudskoy said at a press conference in Moscow.

READ MORE: Captured ISIS fighter says 'trained in Turkey, ISIS thinks it’s safer here than Syria’ 

An opposition rebel group, the Syrian Democratic Forces, was established in October of 2015 that unites Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian, Armenian, and Turkmen militias.

Rudskoy added that Russian air strikes had destroyed 556 militant targets in 164 combat sorties conducted since December 25. Successfully hit targets were located in “Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, and Raqqa provinces.”

The safety zone has been significantly expanded around the Qaris airfield in Aleppo Province. “In the last few days two localities to the north of the airfield including the tactically important heights of Tel Sherbiya were liberated.”

Rudskoy noted that the strategy of attracting the support of local opposition to fight IS occupation is proving fruitful.

“The strategy chosen by us and aimed at the blocking terrorist financial channels, and attracting the patriotic opposition to the fight against terrorists, is showing results. We intend to continue our work aimed at the unification of all forces which are interested in liberating Syria from international terrorists.”

In the meantime, the Syrian Arab Army has staged offensives to the north and east of Latakia Province. “Three significant plateaus towards Kabbani and Sirmaniyah fell into their [Syrian army] control,” the spokesman stated.

Russia launched its military air campaign in Syria against terrorist groups on September 30 after Damascus officially requested its aid due to the critical situation in the county resulting from its civil war. Russia has conducted over 5,200 combat sorties since then.