"Yesterday, another round of negotiations was held on a possible agreement on ensuring the safety of Russian and US-led coalition flights over Syria. We note that our positions are moving closer on key provisions of the future document," ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konaskenkov told reporters.
In addition, Russian and Israeli aircraft have begun training on safe flights in Syrian airspace.
"Yesterday, the first stage of exercises on preventing dangerous incidents in the sky above the Syrian Arab Republic began between Russia`s Aerospace Forces and the Israeli Air Force," the Defense Ministry spokesman said, adding that the second phase of joint exercises will take place later on Thursday.
The spokesman noted that a mutual information mechanism on flights over Syria has been organized between the Russian control center at Syria`s Hmaimim airbase and the Israeli Air Force`s command post.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian aviation completed 33 sorties in Syria, striking ISIL facilities in the provinces of Idlib, Hama, Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir az-Zor, he added.
Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed an Osa missile system earlier captured from the Syrian army by ISIL militants, Konashenkov said.
Apart from that, Su-24M bombers smashed an ISIL command post in Qusair al-Ward in the Aleppo province. The facility was destroyed by a direct hit, he said.
According to Konashenkov, Islamic State militants have begun to retreat in Syria, as Russian aviation increases reconnaissance to pinpoint new positions.
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