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Three Russian journalists injured in Syria

A car carrying embedded Russian journalists was struck with an anti-tank missile in the Latakia province
A Syrian soldier stands at a Syrian-Turkish border crossing near the town of Kasab in the Latakia province on 16 June 2014 (AFP)

Three Russian state media journalists were lightly wounded in Syria when a missile exploded close to their vehicle as they travelled near the frontline in government-held territory, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Two journalists from Russia Today and one from TASS news agency sustained the injuries on Monday when their vehicle was fired upon with anti-tank missiles, the defence ministry added.

Russia Today published video shot by its journalist from a white vehicle driving up a hillside, passing shelled-out buildings and waved on by armed men before an explosion flips the car and the cameraman clambers out.

https://twitter.com/NorthernStork/status/669105506351316992

"Three Russian journalists were lightly injured, one of them suffered concussion," the defence ministry said in a statement.

"Currently the whole group of Russian journalists has returned to the Hmeimim air base, where the wounded are getting medical care."

The incident, only reported on Tuesday, took place in northern Latakia province near the village of Daghmashliya as the vehicle approached the strategic Zwek hill, the defence ministry said.

Russia on 31 September began bombing operations against Islamic State militants in Syria at the request of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

TASS news agency named its injured journalist as Alexander Yelistratov, while RT said its English-language correspondent Roman Kosarev suffered concussion and its Arabic-language correspondent Sargon Hadaya suffered shrapnel injuries to his back and leg.

Kosarev told Radio Sputnik that the attack was deliberate.

"This was very deliberate. There were at least 17 journalists all wearing blue reporters' helmets. It was very close to us and we were in a hideout for a while afterwards," he said.

Pro-Kremlin journalists are embedded with the Russian deployment carrying out the bombing campaign in Syria from the Hmeimim base in territory controlled by the Damascus government. 

The journalists also cover forces loyal to Russia's long-standing ally President Bashar al-Assad, which Moscow seeks to portray as a key bulwark against IS fighters. 

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