Russian Defense Ministry affirmed that the strikes of Russian forces operating in Syria are delivered exclusively on targets of ISIS terrorist organization.

“To avoid unnecessary escalation, the command of the Russian forces in Syria gave the US partners an advance notice, through an existing communications channel, on the [territorial] borders within which the military operation in Deir Ezzor would be conducted,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

“The priority targets for destruction are the terrorists’ firing positions from which they are leading large-scale attacks on the Syrian forces,” he added.

“During this operation, the military destroy manpower, armored vehicles and terrorists’ facilities both on the western and the eastern shores of Euphrates,” Konashenkov said.

He pointed out that within a few recent days Russia’s means of control and reconnaissance did not find any clashes between the ISIS terrorists and armed representatives of any “third force.”

“Thus, only representatives of the international coalition could explain how into the ISIS forces in Deir Ezzor without fighting could have got the “opposition” or “military advisors of the international coalition,” he added