ALALAM – Syria
The fighter jets pounded ISIS positions in the regions of Abu Kaleh Dam and Qasr al-Hayer, killing 116 terrorists and destroying 12 vehicles, including bomb-laden ones.
The Syrian state news agency reported that over 70 ISIL militants were killed in air raid in Albu Kaleh and several rocket launchers and machinegun-equipped vehicles were destroyed.
In the meantime, over 46 ISIL fighters were killed and seven machinegun-equipped vehicles and five bomb-laden suicide cars were destroyed in army aircraft's raid in Qasr al-Hayer, the agency added.
The Syrian army troops for their part targeted ISIS positions near al-Katibeh al-Mahjoureh.
The Russian General Staff said on Thursday that the Syrian army supported by Russian warplanes stopped terrorists' further advance in Palmyra.
Multiple attacks by ISIL terrorists on Palmyra were repelled, the General Staff said, adding that the main fighting took place near the T4 military airfield and the city of Tiyas, Sputnik reported.
The first deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff Viktor Poznikhir also said that the situation in the Syrian ancient city stabilized due to the Syrian army's operation with Russia's aerial support.
Moreover, Russia is helping Damascus to launch a counteroffensive.
"The Syrian troops supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces have stabilized the situation near the city of Palmyra. Multiple attacks by ISIL militants have been repelled. The main front line is located near the city of Tiyas and T4 airfield. The Russian Federation is helping the Syrian leadership in organizing a counteroffensive on Palmyra," Lt. Gen. Poznikhir said.
On Sunday, ISIL recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra in the Homs province, and according to various sources, the number of terrorists that took part in the storming of the city reached 5,000 including hundreds of suicide bombers and dozens of armored vehicles.
According to the Homs governor, the government forces managed to evacuate some 80 percent of city's civilian population.
Earlier, Syrian President Bashar Assad vowed that the Syrian army will retake Palmyra after liberating Aleppo, FNA reported.
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