The military of Russia and Syria delivered massive strikes at the territory where the pilot of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-24M aircraft downed by the Turkish Air Force was rescued, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Thursday.
“As soon as our pilot was safe, Russian bombers and rocket artillery of the Syrian government forces delivered massive strikes at the mentioned area,” Konashenkov said.
“Terrorists and other mysterious groups acting in the area were destroyed,” he said.
The spokesman added that militants and other armed units equipped with advanced devices tried to hunt down the navigator of the downed Russian Sukhoi-24M jet.
“I’d like to stress that apart from our search teams, the militants and other armed units equipped with devices for bearings were actively searching for the Russian pilot,” Gen Konashenkov said.
Russian warplanes attacked 450 terrorist targets the last 72 hours
According to Konashenkov, Russian aircraft have made 134 sorties over the past three days, attacking nearly 450 targets in eight Syrian provinces.
After carrying out military tasks, all Russian combat aircraft safely returned to the Khmeimim airbase, he said.
The spokesman also pointed out that militants trapped near Tell Bis and Er Rastan settlements in Syria’s Homs province are suffering heavy losses under the air strikes.