Russian strategic aircraft hit ISIS targets in Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor

Six Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers conducted airstrikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists in the south-eastern part of Syria’s province of Deir Ez-Zor on Sunday. The strategic bombers targeted amassed hardware, munition stockpiles and terrorist outposts in the area, the Russian Defense Ministry said. While the Tu-22M3 planes flew to Syria from Russia, they received support from Su-30SM fighter jets, which were scrambled from the Russian Khmeimim Airbase in western Syria. All the aircraft returned to their respective airfields upon completing the mission.