Russia has no plans to participate in ground operations on the territory of Syria, the head of the defense ministry's press service and information, major-general Igor Konashenkov said Oct.1 at a briefing, RIA Novosti news agency reported.
"Participation of Russian troops in ground operations in Syria is not planned," he said.
He said that over 50 planes and helicopters joined the aviation group of aerospace forces of Russia that inflicts strikes on objects of the "Islamic State" in Syria.
"Aviation group was deployed in shortest terms," he said. "We were able to do this because the main stocks and ammunition were located in logistics point in Tartous. We only had to relocate the aircraft and provide some equipment."
Earlier, Russia's President Vladimir Putin appealed to the country's Federation Council for permission to use the Russian armed forces abroad. The Federation Council granted the request.
Russian Defense Ministry has said the aircraft of the country's air forces launched air operations with pinpoint strikes on terrorists from the radical group "Islamic State" in Syria.
"Russia intends to use aircraft solely, acting at a request of the Syrian President Bashar Assad, who is fighting the "Islamic State" terrorists," the head of the Kremlin administration Sergei Ivanov said Sept. 30.
Russian military jets deployed in Syria carried out some 20 combat missions striking at least eight ISIL targets located in mountainous regions, Igor Konashenkov said Sept.30.
"As a result of air strikes, ammunition and fuel depots, heavy military hardware, as well as command posts in the mountainous areas have been destroyed," he said.
Konashenkov went on to add that all sorties were carried out after thorough reconnaissance and close coordination with the Syrian army.
He also said that the Russian planes did not target civilian facilities or their vicinity.
Edited by CN