The Observatory said a large explosion hit a building on the outskirts of the town of al-Bab in northern Syria, which is held by the ultra-hardline Islamic State.
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Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syria Observatory for Human Rights, said Islamic State forces had taken over villages including Tel Suseen and Tel Qarah from other rebels groups just outside the city.
“IS has never been so close to the city of Aleppo, and this is its biggest advance towards” Syria’s second city, Mr Rahman said. Russia’s defence ministry also denied the reports. Footage released October 5, 2015.
The militants’ gains came as regime forces, backed by Russian bombing and fighters from the Lebanese Shi’ite militia Hizbollah, intensified an offensive against rebels in the north-west, where ISIS is absent.
On Wednesday, Russian warships from the Caspian Sea fleet joined in the strikes with a volley of cruise missiles, the first time Moscow has used cruise missiles.
The U.S.is limiting its discussions with Russia to basic, technical talks about efforts to ensure that flights over Syria are conducted safely and, “That’s it”, he has said, prompting protests from Russian leaders who want broader talks.
French Rafale warplanes attacked an IS training camp in their stronghold of Raqqa overnight.
Kirby said America’s message to Russian Federation over Syria has not changed.
Syrian government forces had appeared on the ropes earlier this year, but Russian intervention has dramatically altered the balance of power in the conflict.
The IRGC said one of its most senior generals, Hossein Hamedani, was killed near Aleppo late on Thursday.
Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, lauded Hamedani’s role in the fighting. Northern Iran and Iraq are in the flight path of the Russian cruise missiles on the way to Syria.
Konashenkov said one of the targets hit near Aleppo was a concealed base for military vehicles, which he said had received a direct hit from an Su-24M bomber. The precise cause of his death was not given.
The areas were seized from hard-line and mainstream rebel groups, including the ultra-conservative Ahrar al-Sham and the Levantine Front.
Assad’s longtime ally Russian Federation launched its air campaign in September, saying it would also target IS. Over 200 rebels were trained under this programme.
This show of cooperation belies a strong sense of distrust between the two countries, with the United States and its allies accusing Russian Federation of targeting forces seeking to topple Assad, whom the US-led coalition opposes.
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The organization said there is a minimal Islamic State presence in the areas where the air strikes were carried out.
