Iraq Peshmergas attack villages held by Islamic State near its capital of Mosul on August 14, 2016. (Xinhua/SIPA)

MOSCOW, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Two Russian frigates and a submarine deployed in the eastern Mediterranean have fired six Kalibr cruise missiles at Islamic State (IS) targets in west-central Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.

The "sudden massive missile strike" was directed at "command posts and large ammunition depots of IS terrorists in the vicinity of Akerbat settlement in the province of Hama," it said in a statement.

The Russian navy has once again demonstrated the capability of delivering effective strikes with Kalibr high-precision missiles against remote targets in the shortest possible time after receiving the combat order, the statement said.

The remaining militants and terrorist facilities were destroyed by Russian air force bombers, it added.

Turkey and Israel were informed of the launches of cruise missiles in a timely manner, the ministry said.

According to the Russian defense ministry, IS continued to withdraw from its stronghold of Raqqa in northeastern Syria last week, making use of the night time and favorable terrain.

IS militants moved along various routes to the province of Hama, occupying large buildings and setting up command posts as well as weapons and ammunition depots there.

Russian troops in Syria conducted round-the-clock monitoring of the exit routes of IS terrorists with all available reconnaissance means, the ministry said.