Russia’s defense ministry on Tuesday dismissed as "absolute lies" claims that its jets had bombed the Syrian city of Palmyra.

Russia's defense ministry on Tuesday dismissed as "absolute lies" claims that its jets had bombed the Syrian city of Palmyra.

"All reports by foreign media that Russian planes have allegedly conducted air strikes against the city of Palmyra are absolute lies," ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, Russian news wires reported.

"Our aviation in Syria does not attack residential areas nor -- especially not -- the architectural monuments there," he said.

Syrian state television reported Tuesday that Russian warplanes bombed targets in and around the Syrian city of Palmyra in Moscow's first strikes against the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri group area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the Palmyra strikes were launched overnight and killed at least 15 ISIL fighters and injured dozens more.

Russia last week launched air strikes in Syria at the request of its ally President Bashar al-Assad.