Damascus, Oct 5 (Prensa Latina) This week began in Syria with an intense activity of the Russian aviation, in cooperation with local air forces, which in five days of raids against terrorist groups caused a turnaround in the situation.
On Sunday, 20 combat missions were flown against 10 targets of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), including a command post and a weapons cache.

The Russian Sukhoi Su-25 attack planes destroyed a training camp of the extremists and a workshop for making explosive belts in the Syrian province of Idleb, 320 kilometers northeast of the capital.

Also were reported attacks in which took part the Russian Su-24M and Su-34 fighter-bombers, destroying three depots of ammunition, weapons and accessories of the armed groups of the IS in Raqqa.

The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement, recognizing the success of these operations owing to the use of the KAB-500M guided bombs, designed to destroy concrete.

On Saturday, the aircraft of the Russian Air Force destroyed a bunker and a deposit of explosives of the IS in the city of Raqqa, its main stronghold.

They also bombed a base near Maarath al-Nouman, in the Idleb province, 320 kilometers northeast of the capital.

Another significant fact as a result of Russian air raids, was the beginning of the evacuation of the families of the terrorists stationed in the city of Raqqa, towards the Iraqi town of Mosul, before the impending combined attack against the main stronghold of the jihadists.

It was also known that some 600 foreign mercenaries affiliated to terrorist armed bands fled combat areas in Syria, and are trying to reach Europe, according to statements by Colonel General Andrei Kartapolov, head of operational senior management of the General Staff of the Russian army.

"Panic and desertions have begun in their ranks" said Kartapólov.

Last Saturday, over 700 members of extremist armed bands operating in the Syrian province of Daraa, 103 kilometers south of the capital, gave themselves up to the authorities, as part of the process of national reconciliation.

Among the weapons recovered there LAW anti-tank rocket launchers, PK machine guns, a B 90 cannon, and 332 rifles, precision rifles and handguns, along with ammunition, government officials explained.

Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, reaffirmed the willingness of his government to continue confronting the terrorist groups operating here since 2011, and accused the international coalition led by the US of being "incapable", after having allegedly fought the IS for a year.

In statements given to the Iranian TV channel Khabar, al-Assad referred to the change of position of some Western powers, after Russia decided to collaborate directly in the fight against armed bands.

He put special emphasis on the initiative of Russian President Vladmir Putin, which ended with an alliance between Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

He also spoke of the imminent danger to Europe and the world, in the face of a possible advance of terrorism into their territories.

He stressed that in addition to the effort made in the military field, the government is taking steps to achieve a peaceful solution to the crisis, one in which all political and social forces of the nation take part.