“We have very methodically gone through this to ensure that we are doing this in a way that is humane and not going to cause civilian casualties”, Davis said, while “also recognizing the fact that these trucks are an integral link in the revenue stream that is providing revenue … to ISIL”.
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U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren in Baghdad said it appears no civilians were hurt in Saturday’s attacks.
If accurate, the Russian claims would mean the fleet of tanker lorries used by smugglers to carry oil to neighbouring countries – a major source of income for Isis – has been all but wiped out. It smuggles the oil mainly to Turkey, selling at cut-rate prices and generating almost $50 million a month.
The US-led coalition reported hitting 283 vehicles in eastern Syria on November 21.
A US-led airstrike last destroyed 116 oil tankers.
Russian Federation began an intervention in Syria on September 30, launching bombing raids and air strikes against Islamic State and rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad.
“The key is to destroy Daesh [Isis] rapidly in Syria and in Iraq”, Mr Kerry said. The government’s next push is expected to target the nearby town of Qaryatain and later the historic town of Palmyra, which was taken by the Islamic State in May.
He will then travel to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin as part of an effort for greater co-operation in the wake of the Paris attacks that killed 130 people, and bombing of a Russian passenger plane.
“The gunfire isn’t laser guided, so it’s individual strike a truck, or two or three trucks; move to the next batch, strike them; move, strike; move, strike”, said Warren.
Russian military official Andrei Kartapolov added that Russian forces have destroyed about 500 tanker trucks over the past several days.
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The statement, which was issued late Sunday, said the flight suspension to the cities of Irbil and Sulaimaniyah is to “protect travelers” as cruise missiles and bombers cross northern Iraq from the Caspian Sea to Syria.
