Russia plans to escalate missions in Syria to '300-a-day' as troops backed by Moscow's jets advance on rebel groups in Aleppo
- Syrian ground forces are moving in on Aleppo as Russian jets give support
- Warplanes flattened houses in a strategically important village near Aleppo
- Russia's jets carry out dozens of missions a day but wants to up this to 300
- Country has been condemned for attacking Western-backed rebel factions
- See the latest on Russia's missions in Syria at www.dailymail.co.uk/russia
Russia plans to carry out up to 300 aerial missions over Syria every day and intends to build a new runway to accommodate its warplane, it has been claimed.
This shocking escalation comes as Syrian troops advance on rebel areas in the province of Aleppo, backed up by Russian jets that have been bombing Syria for more than two weeks.
Images taken only today show the destruction caused by Russia's planes in the strategically important village of Al-Hader, just south of Aleppo city, which activists claim is the next target in Syria's ground offensive.
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Destruction: Damaged buildings are seen after the Russian war crafts hit the village of Al-Hader south of Aleppo, Syria
Non-stop: As photographs of the destruction caused by Russian jets emerges, reports claim Russia plans to carry out up to 300 aerial missions over Syria every day
Bombardment: Russian jets have been bombing terror and rebel groups in Syria for more than two weeks to up the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
The Syrian army has launched four ground assaults against rebel groups since Moscow began its bombing campaign to prop up Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia claims to be targeting ISIS and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra front, but western governments have condemned it for also firing on rebel factions, some of whom have received cash and training from the West.
Syrian soldiers have gone on the attack in the provinces of Hama, Homs, Latakia and now Aleppo - where power has been shared by the regime, rebels, ISIS and al-Nusra since mid-2012.
The regime took back at least five villages in strategically important regions of Aleppo yesterday, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR).
The monitor group claimed the advance brought them to the edge of al-Hader, which has been hit hard by Russia's warplanes.
SOHR chief Rami Abdel Rahman said seizing the village - which lies on a key supply route between Aleppo and Hama - would give the government an upper hand in the battle.
A senior Syrian army source has said troops are also advancing on the Kweyris military airport, which could be used by Russian jets that are currently stationed at the Hmeimim base in the eastern Latakia province.
Mixed reports: Russia claims to be targeting ISIS and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra front, but western governments have condemned it for also firing on rebel factions
Rubble: Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) claimed the Syrian army's ground offensive has brought them to the edge of al-Hader (pictured), which has been hit hard by Russia's warplanes
Strategic: SOHR chief Rami Abdel Rahman said seizing al-Hader, which lies on a key supply route between Aleppo and Hama, would give the government an upper hand in the battle
Direct hit: A video grab made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website of what it claism was an airstrike on an ISIS training camp in the Syrian province of Idlib
Activists have claimed that Moscow's jets have carried out at least 80 airstrikes in Aleppo since Friday, while Russia's defence ministry said 36 sorties which struck 49 'ISIS targets' took place in the last 24 hours alone.
Sources close to Russia's operation in Syria told the Sunday Times that its aim is to raise the number of missions to between 200 and 300 a day.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow's bombing campaign was an attempt to protect its own national interests and security, amid reports that thousands of fighters from the former Soviet Union are fighting alongside ISIS in Syria.
He said: 'Of course we are not fighting for specific leaders, we are defending our national interests, on the one hand.
'And secondly, we have a request from the lawful authorities (of Syria). That is the basis we are working on.'
He claims that President Vladimir Putin told him: 'If we don't destroy these terrorists there, they will come to Russia.'
Russia claims to be attacking ISIS positions with 'high-precision' weapons but activists and human rights groups claim to have evidence that its jets are also firing inaccurate cluster bombs which could harm civilians.
In Moscow on Saturday, around 200 people demonstrated against Russia's air campaign, with police arresting one woman with a banner reading, 'Putin assassin, don't bring shame on Russia'.
Syria's opposition coalition has also called for 'urgent action to put an end to the Russian aggression'.
And despite the regime push in Aleppo, they faced resistance in the central province of Homs.
Government forces have been trying to seize a rebel-held village in an enclave north of Homs city, which is controlled by the regime.
The Observatory said Saturday nine Russian air strikes had struck the village and its surroundings, where regime forces were locked in heavy fighting despite the air support.
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