DHAKA: Russia has fired cruise missiles at targets in Syria in a major display of military power, with warships in the Caspian Sea more than 1,200km away carrying out the attacks.

Russia says it is targeting the Islamic State (IS) of Iraq and Syria group, but at least some of its air strikes have reportedly hit Western-backed armed groups.

This is the first news of Russia using its navy in its Syria campaign since it began building up its military forces in Syria.

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister, said on Thursday the navy hit 11 targets in Syria from with missiles fired from ships in the Caspian Sea, reports Al Jazeera.

According to state news agency RIA Novosti, Shoigu told Russian President Vladimir Putin all of the targets, which included areas under IS control, were destroyed without any civilian casualties reported.

Four ships in Russia’s Caspian fleet fired a total of 26 cruise missiles at the targets, the report said, adding that they passed over Iran and Iraq.

The missiles flew nearly 1,500km over Iran and Iraq and struck Raqqa and Aleppo provinces in Syria’s north and Idlib province in the northwest, Russian officials said.

IS militants have strongholds in Raqqa and Aleppo, while al-Nusra Front has a strong presence in Idlib.

BDST: 1534 HRS, OCT 08, 2015
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