The source said
the 18 air strikes were in the provinces of Idlib, Hama and
Aleppo and were against Islamic State targets.
The air strikes however appeared at least partly focused on
areas hit earlier this week by the Russians where Islamic State
has little or no presence.
Insurgents operating in Idlib and Hama provinces are mostly from
rebel groups battling to topple President Bashar al-Assad. Those
groups also have a foothold in Aleppo province, where Islamic
State also operates.
Separately, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at
least 12 Islamic State fighters had been killed in a Russian air
strike in Raqqa province on Thursday. The province is mostly
under Islamic State control.
(Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by Samia Nakhoul and Angus
MacSwan)
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