Russia has launched its first attacks on militant targets in Syria involving warplanes from both Russian and Syrian air bases as well as an aircraft carrier based in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Russian defense ministry made the announcement on Thursday. Cruise missiles fired from Russian Tu-95MS planes struck ISIL and Nusra Front targets in a three-pronged approach. 

It's the first such since Russia launched its campaign in Syria more than a year ago. Planes deployed from an airbase in Russia covered more than 11,000 kilometers and refuelled twice in the air.

It identified the targets struck as military command centers, ammunition depots, and military hardware. But the ministry didn't identify the regions in which the targets were hit.