Russia has, for the first time, targeted Islamic State targets in Syria with Kalibr land-attack cruise missiles launched from a submarine in the Mediterranean Sea, according to Russia's defense minister.

The 3M-54 Kalibr missiles were launched from the Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine Rostov-on-Don, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

Russia's warships based in the Caspian and Mediterranean seas launched similar missiles targeting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) positions in late November. This is the first time that Russia has targeted IS in Syria from a submarine.

"(The missiles) targeted two major terrorist positions in the territory of Raqqa," he said.

"We can say with absolute confidence that significant damage has been inflicted upon ammunition warehouses and a mine production plant, as well as the oil infrastructure."

Earlier on Tuesday, a source within the Russian Ministry of Defense revealed that the Rostov-on-Don, equipped with modern Russian Kalibr cruise missiles, had appeared near the Syrian coast.