Russia starts new 'large-scale' operation in Syria

MOSCOW (AA) – Russian military launched a new large-scale operation in Syria’s Idlib and Homs provinces Tuesday, Russian media outlets quoting the defense minister said.

According to the state-backed Russia Today, the operation involved several airstrikes against Daesh and Al-Nusra positions in the two provinces.

During the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian military brass in the Russian city of Sochi, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said cruise missiles from the Admiral Grigorovich frigate were fired, while Admiral Kuznetshov aircraft carrier carrying Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jets also took part in the operation.

This is the first time the Admiral Kuznetshov aircraft carrier has participated in a military operation, Russia Today added.

Syria has been wrecked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests -- which erupted as part of the "Arab Spring" uprisings -- with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, more than 400,000 people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced across the war-battered country, according to the UN.

For the past year, Russia -- citing the need to combat "terrorism" and support for the embattled Assad regime -- has carried out numerous airstrikes in opposition-held parts of Aleppo, which have led to the death and injury of hundreds of the city’s civilian inhabitants.