Russia denies hitting wrong targets in Syria

The Russian defence ministry on Friday denied allegations that its air force hit wrong targets of the Islamic State (IS) terror group in Syria.

"The allegations are complete nonsense and have no factual basis," Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

On Thursday, the Turkish foreign ministry issued a joint statement with the US, Germany, Britain, France, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, saying that Russian airstrikes did not target the IS and caused civilian casualties, Xinhua news agency reported.

Konashenkov said the ministry was monitoring various sources of false information.

Russian air force aircraft carried out 18 strikes against 12 IS targets in Syria over the last 24 hours, the ministry said.

Among others, three command posts, a communications centre, two training camps, various bunkers, as well as weapons and fuel depots were destroyed in the air attacks, the statement said.

Su-34 fighter bombers carried out precision strikes from heights of over 5,000 metres, the statement said, adding that this type of aircraft can carry out strikes against terrorist targets in the whole territory of Syria.

"The navigation device on board the aircraft allows hitting any ground targets with absolute precision," it said.

Russia started airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday after the Russian Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, granted President Vladimir Putin the right to send troops following a request by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Over 50 Russian aircraft and combat helicopters have been deployed at Syria's Hmaimin airbase, located close to the port of Latakia.