A still image taken from a video footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry on September 5, 2017 shows a Russian frigate in the Mediterranean firing a Kalibr cruise missile at Islamic State targets.

MOSCOW, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- A Russian frigate deployed in the Mediterranean carried out a strike Tuesday with Kalibr cruise missiles at Islamic State (IS) targets near the Syrian city of Deir al-Zour, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The strike was directed at a fortified area in the vicinity of the settlement of al-Shola, which was being held by a group of terrorists originally from Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States," it said in a statement.

Various command posts, a communication center, warehouses with weapons and ammunition, an armored vehicle repair shop and a large concentration of militants were destroyed, it said.

The strike has ensured the success of the advancement of Syrian government troops and contributed to the disruption of IS attempts to regroup forces and strengthen positions near Deir al-Zour, the ministry said.

Russia has been participating in anti-terrorist operations in Syria since September 2015 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian state media reported Tuesday that government forces have broken the IS siege of Deir al-Zour, which has been held by the terrorist group for years.