Fri Mar 18, 2016 20:59:32
The Russian armed forces said Friday that the country's jets are flying some 25 bombing raids daily to back up a Syrian government offensive to recapture the ancient city of Palmyra from ISIS militants.
Senior commander Sergei Rudskoi said the "conditions have been created for the encirclement and definitive defeat of ISIS (ISIL) armed formations in Palmyra."
"Government troops and patriotic forces with the support of the Russian air force are carrying out a large-scale operation to liberate Palmyra," he told journalists.
"On average Russian planes are flying 20 to 25 combat sorties each day," Rudskoi said.
Palmyra has seen over the past months shocking scenes of pillage and looting by ISIS of some of its valuable archaeological sites, including the ancient Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Russian Defense Ministry has yet to confirm the alleged death of Russian soldiers. Russia has reportedly lost a total of five servicemen since its aerial campaign against terrorist positions began in Syria on September 30, 2015. The combat sorties began upon a request by the Syrian government.
Officials in the ministry said on Friday that conditions were created for the complete defeat of ISIS in Palmyra.
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