Alwaght-Fresh Russian airstrikes in Syria have killed over 100 ISIS terrorists in the last 24 hours as Syrian government forces aided by allied militia units advanced further into the ancient city of Palmyra.
Russian warplanes continued providing crucial support to Syrian forces in their offensive to recapture the Syrian city of Palmyra, a UNESCO Heritage Site, as they carried out 158 airstrikes hitting terrorist targets in and around the city. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, more than 100 terrorists were killed in the bombardment, along with several pieces of heavy equipment.
“Russian Aerospace Forces have carried out 40 sorties in the Palmyra region,” a statement published on the Defense Ministry’s official website read, adding that “as a result … four tanks, three artillery pieces, four ammunition depots, and five vehicles were destroyed.”
On March 14, Russia announced that it was withdrawing the majority of its forces from Syria, as the five-month operation nears its goals. At the same time, Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov stressed that Russia’s remaining air contingent is still tasked with hitting terrorist targets, as it is “early to talk about victory over terrorism.”
Syrian governmental forces seized medieval Palmyra Castle on Thursday, taking control of the high point overlooking the city.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Syrian forces, in cooperation with the allied militia units, continued military operations to retake Tadmur (Palmyra city) where fierce clashes are taking place in various areas, with ISIS terrorists suffering heavy losses.
The operations have resulted in establishing full control over the neighborhoods of al-Mutaqa’idin, al-Ameriyeh and al-Jamiyat al-Gharbiyeh in Tadmur city, according to sources on the ground.
Sources say that violent clashes also are going on in the vicinity of Palmyra airport in the eastern of the city.
Elsewhere Syrian forces have established control over two positions in the eastern countryside of Hama after inflicting heavy losses in personnel and munitions upon ISIS terrorists.
Army units carried ou a special operation against dens and gatherings of ISIS terrorist organization in Aqareb area 31 kilometers to the east of Hama.
