Russia launched a major new offensive across Syria yesterday as air strikes intensified on the besieged city of Aleppo for the first time in weeks.
Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister, said the operation was targeting Isis and Syrian jihadis, as well as their ammunition depots and training camps, in the provinces of Idlib and Homs. He said the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia’s only aircraft carrier, was participating in the campaign — its first combat mission.
A Russian frigate fired cruise missiles in the offensive, Mr Shoigu added. He did not mention Aleppo, where more than 250,000 people are trapped by a regime siege on rebel-held areas. But opposition activists said strikes began hitting the city early yesterday.