by Genevieve Casagrande
The Russian Ministry of
Defense claimed on
October 3 that Russian Su-34s conducted airstrikes targeting an ISIS-held
“command center” near Raqqah city, northern Syria. However, local Syrian reporting
did not substantiate this claim. In fact, Syrian activists released comparisons
of the airstrike
footage, revealing that the strike targeted the
rebel-held town of Al Latamneh in Hama Province, western Syria. Syrian
state-run news agency SANA also released footage of the same
airstrike; however, SANA claimed the airstrike targeted the town of Jisr
al-Shughour. As the Russian Ministry of
Defense continues to claim airstrikes against ISIS, particularly in core
ISIS-held terrain, it will remain important to distinguish the true targets and
intentions of Russian military action in Syria amidst Russian disinformation.
The Russian Ministry of Defense released airstrike footage of an alleged strike against ISIS positions in Raqqah.
Syrian state-run news agency SANA released footage of the same strike, claiming it targeted Jisr al-Shughour in Idlib Province.
Activist Eliot Higgins released evidence revealing that the airstrike targeted the rebel-held town of Al Latamneh in Hama Province.
