Russian commander claims killing "120 terrorists", human rights group says "fake news"
The deputy commander of the Russian military's coordination center in Idlib governorate in Northern Syria announced on Friday that more than 120 terrorists were killed by airstrikes targeting a camp of "Al-Nusra Front", Syrian state news agency SANA reported.
SANA cited major general Oleg Igorov saying, "the Russian Air Force destroyed a camp belonging to the terrorists of 'Al-Nusra' organization in Sheikh Yusef area in Idlib, killing more than 120 terrorists.”
Igorov also claimed that the camp was completely destroyed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) rejected the Russian claims, saying that it is "fake news."
"SOHR confirms the falsehood of these allegations, which are intended to legitimize the ongoing targeting of civilians in Idlib by Russian airstrikes under the pretext that terrorist groups are planning attacks on Russian units in Syria," it said.
At least five civilians were reportedly killed and many were injured by Russian airstrikes in areas near the city of Idlib on Thursday.