Russia Claims To Destroy ISIS Command Centers In Syria Amid Allegations Of Civilian Casualties

Russia has claimed to have destroyed 11 ISIS command centers in Syria. In addition, it claims that its air strike in the Homs Province has destroyed an ammunition depot as well.

Russian Defense Ministry Major General Igor Konashenkov said the air strike was launched where a number of mortar shells and cartridges were being delivered. The ammunition started to detonate after the strike and three trucks were destroyed at the facility, according to Konashenkov.

The spokesman added, near Damascus, Sukhoi Su-24M destroyed two ammunition depots and a shop which was making explosive devices. In Aleppo, Su-25 destroyed shelters, tanks and armored vehicles belonging to ISIS, he said.

"I would like to say specifically, much assistance comes from the people living in regions, which are controlled temporarily by the militants, as they inform the Syrian reconnaissance about terrorists," Russian News Agency TASS quoted Konashenkov as saying. "As the Russian commanders receive this information, they verify it and only later on make decisions on destroying of facilities mentioned."

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported an alleged Russian airstrike had killed 48 people from a single family in central Homs. According to Syrian activists, the family was hiding at a bomb shelter which was hit by a suspected Russian rocket. It took more than ten hours for rescue teams to recover the bodies.

Survivor Abu Abbas said most of the people killed in the strike were children. He also said that unlike what Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed, they "were not terrorists." According to him, the eldest victim was a 70-year-old woman while the youngest was a one-month-old baby.

The Russian military claims to have made 39 flights targeting 49 ISIS facilities in Syria. According to the Russian news agency, foreign instructors trained ISIS students how to "legalize themselves among civilians and refugees."