Update: Russian Aerospace Forces Conduct 64 Sorties in Syria, Hit 55 ISIL Targets

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The Russian Aerospace Forces have conducted 64 sorties in Syria hitting 55 ISIL targets, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday.

The Russian military has increased the intensity of combat flights in Syria as the number of ISIL targets has grown, the Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman said.

"The increased intensity of the combat missions of our aircraft is related to a significant rise of the number of ground targets identified by means of air and space reconnaissance throughout the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said adding that the strikes are conducted by Su-34, Su-24M and Su-25SM aircraft.

Russian airstrikes in Syria have significantly reduced ISIL's combat potential, their mobility as well as the terrorists' ability to attack, he said.

'Relentless' Russian Airstrikes Caught Terrified ISIL Off Guard - Source

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A recent series of airstrikes launched by Russian air forces against the Islamic State in Syria caused the ISIL militants to evacuate their checkpoints in Raqqa and to cancel all public events there.

A source in the Islamic State’s so-called 'capital' told Sputnik on condition of anonymity that Russian airstrikes have caused widespread panic among the Islamist militants who apparently were not expecting such a relentless assault.

"They thought that Russian warplanes would act like their American counterparts – that they would launch some sporadic surgical strikes at dusk and then they would fly away," the source said. "Instead, Russian military aircraft constantly bombard ISIS positions in the vicinity of Raqqa, and these massed strikes have completely paralyzed the Islamist group’s activities. The Russian air operation proved to be extremely effective."

Iraqi Parliamentarian Claims to Have Proof US Help to ISIL

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Iraqi lawmaker Qasim Al-Araji told the Iraqi parliament that his group, the Badr Organization, is in possession of documented proof that the United States government offers the self-proclaimed Islamic State with weapons and military aid.

 According to Almasalah news, the top of the Badr Parliamentary bloc shared these details with parliament on Thursday, claiming that the group is in possession of evidence pointing to US military provisions to Islamic State and further stating which they will have the ability to share the documented evidence at a later time.