The Russian Ministry of Defense flew Moscow-based reporters out to an airbase near the Syrian province of Latakia, one of the strongholds of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to give journalists an an exclusive look of Russian air operations in the Hemeimeem airbase, reports the Associated Press.
Russian combat jets have started using the airbase to conduct airstrikes earlier this week.
The trip was reportedly planned during Assad's visit to Moscow, which has been noted as his first known diplomatic visit outside of the war-torn country since the outbreak of the conflict.
Russia has been on the receiving end of international criticism since the start of its air campaigns in Syria late last month. Reportedly, the Russian government has been targeting rebel strongholds in Hama and Homs province as opposed to Daesh-controlled territories, a move that US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has called a "failing strategy".
Russian and American officials held talks earlier this month to discuss safety procedures to avoid confrontations between pilots from both countries. US Secretary of State John Kerry, and his Russian counterpart, reportedly spoke over the phone this week to further discuss the conflict in Syria, ahead of the talks scheduled for tomorrow between international leaders in Vienna.
Putin has been accused of exploiting the Syrian conflict to gain greater international clout and demonstrate Russia's capabilities. He has been criticized for supporting the Syrian government's repressive actions and propping up the Assad regime. Assad's visit this week was in part used as a way of justifying Russian airstrikes.
