Syrian General Staff information shows strikes against Syrian troop positions in Deir ez-Zor on December 6 were carried out by western coalition, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Citing the data provided by the Syrian General Staff, MoD spokesman said that between 19:40 and 19:55 on December 6, 2015 aircraft of the Western coalition carried out a strike against the field camp of the 168th brigade of the 7th division of the Syrian government forces, located 2 kilometers west of the Deir ez-Zor airfield.
“As a result of the airstrikes, three infantry fighting vehicles and four cars equipped with large-caliber guns were destroyed, 12 people were injured and another four were killed. There weren’t any Russian aircraft over this area. We agree all of our flights in the skies above Syria with air control management and the General Staff of the Syrian government troops,”
Konashenkov told journalists.
He said that US authorities know that Russia informs Syria’s Air Force of the time, altitude, and corridors that Russia is using in accordance with a signed memorandum.
Aircraft from two other nations besides American were seen in skies above Deir ez-Zor during airstrikes against the Syrian army positions on December 6:
“There were two pairs of aircraft belonging to two other members of the US-led anti-Daesh coalition in the skies over Deir ez-Zor. If those aircraft aren’t related to the airstrike in question, then why are the Pentagon officials, those in charge of the anti-Daesh coalition, keeping quiet about the presence of their allies’ aircraft in the vicinity of Deir ez-Zor on December 6.”
The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov also denied foreign media reports that Russia was setting up new airbases in Syria:
“Information about the alleged deployment of a new Russian airbase near the populated area of Shairat — the information was then picked up by Reuters — first appeared in an unknown Kuwaiti newspaper. You don’t have to be a bright military expert to understand that it only takes 30-40 minutes for any Russian airplane to reach the furthest point in Syria from the Hmeymim airbase, where the Russian aviation group is based.”
The Russian Defense Ministry sees no need to create new Russian airbases in Syria, Defense Ministry spokesman Gen.-Maj. Konashenkov added:
“There has not been and there is no operational necessity to set up additional Russian airbases in the territory of Syria in contradiction to what ‘couch strategists’ would lead to believe.”
Moscow has conducted airstrikes against Daesh, also known as ISIL/the Islamic State, in Syria since September 30, acting at the request of the legitimate government of Bashar al-Assad. Russian warships stationed in the Caspian Sea have also launched successful cruise missile strikes against the terrorist group.
Source: Sputnik News
