Russian heavy bombers again strike Deir ez-Zour to break ISIS offensive

Six Tu-22M3 long-range Russian bombers went into action again over the eastern Syrian town of Deir ez-Zour Monday, to break the back of the fresh offensive ISIS launched last week (first revealed by DEBKAfile on Jan. 28) to seize parts of the key town and air field still in Syrian government hands. The Russian defense ministry reported that the “precision strikes targeted and destroyed two ISIS command centers, weapons and ammunitions depots and jihadist manpower/” 

Sukhoi-30SM and Sukhoi-35S fighter jets from the Khmeimim air base provided protection for the Russian bombers. The first Russian Tupelev bomber strike last week at Deir ez-Zour, an important Syrian oil center and ISIS link to Iraq, was escorted by US Hornets, also the first Russian-US joint operation of the Trump administration.