Russian destroys major ISIL's base with long-range bombers

ISIL terrorists have been dealt a major blow in Syria by Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers launched from an airbase located in Russian’s southern regions.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, six bombers took off from Russia early on Tuesday morning and carried out airstrikes against a major Takfiri base and several ammunition depots located to the east of Palmyra and in the towns of Sukhna and Arak and returned home after the attack.

“The strike resulted in the destruction of a large militant field camp, three depots of arms and munitions, three tanks, four infantry combat vehicles and eight vehicles fitted with heavy machine guns, also neutralizing a large number of enemy fighters,” read the statement.

The US-led coalition -- which is conducting a separate campaign purportedly against terrorism in Syria-- was notified before the attack, added the statement.

It added that the targeted sites were "recently detected and confirmed through several intelligence channels."

On Friday, two Russian pilots were killed after ISIL downed a helicopter, close to Palmyra in the country’s central Homs province.

According to Russia’s Interfax news agency, the militants used a US-made TOW antitank missile system in the attack.

SS