Russia continues to bomb IS militants in Syria

Moscow, Dec 4 : Russian strategic bombers continued to strike Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Six Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took off from Russia and destroyed IS ammunition warehouses, equipment and strongholds in the southeast of Deir al-Zour province, Xinhua news agency quoted a statement from the ministry as saying.

The warplanes were covered by Russia's Su-30SM fighters from the Hmeymim airbase in Syria. After completing the mission, the bombers returned to their respective base airfields.

This was the sixth airstrike in sequence by Russian strategic bombers since November 15 as Syrian government troops backed by the Russian air force were finishing expelling IS terrorists from the country.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian military operations against terrorists in Syria were about to come to an end, with the focus shifting to a political process.

To that end, Russia, Iran and Turkey are preparing for a Syrian National Dialogue Congress to be held in Russia's Black Sea resort located in Sochi.