Russia Uses Warships to Launch Missiles at Islamic State Strongholds in Syria

In its latest military participation in Syria, Russia launched missiles from warships this week, allegedly targeting Islamic State strongholds in the Middle Eastern country. 

Nearly 26 Russian warships lined in the Caspian Sea reportedly launched the missiles from 1,000 miles away to strike Islamic State camps in Syria.

The launching of the missiles comes after Russia participated in a series of airstrikes allegedly targeting the Islamic State last week.

Russia's participation in Syrian airstrikes comes amid criticism that the European country is actually targeting the opposition of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, who is embroiled in an ongoing, bloody civil war in his country.

Maria V. Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said in a statement that Russia has never said it would not support the Syrian military.

"I can say coordination is taking place with the Syrian Army, that is unequivocal," Zakharova said in a statement, as reported by The New York Times. "And we call on everybody else to do the same. Without a collective effort, all these activities in the air are useless."

The U.S. has said that the Russian strategy of targeting "all terrorists," even fighter groups backed by the U.S., is a mistake.

"We believe Russia has the wrong strategy," US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement. "They continue to hit targets that are not IS."

"We believe this is a fundamental mistake," Carter added.

According to USA Today, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the country's military was able to attack Islamic State groups thanks to the collaboration among multiple intelligence agencies.

"Intensive work of different intelligence services over the last two days has made it possible to detect a large number of various (Islamic State) facilities — command posts, ammunition depots, military equipment depots, training camps of militants," Shoigu said.