The Russian Defence Ministry said it targeted Islamist militants who had tried to trap a group of Russian military policemen earlier in the week.

Russia's military attacks jihadi targets in Syria (Source: RT)

The strike, launched from the Mediterranean by Russia’s Veliky Novgorod submarine, was part of a counter-offensive against a jihadi attack on government-held parts of northwest Syria near Hama on Tuesday. The missiles hit command centers, armored vehicles and the bases of jihadis who had taken part in the original attack.