RUSSIAN STRIKES ELIMINATE 800 TERRORISTS IN SYRIA

MOSCOW, Russia – The Russian military said its forces supported by Syrian Arab Army has eliminated 800 terrorists in Syria.

Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy made the revelation at a press briefing in Moscow.

He said the terrorists were killed in 990 combats and 2, 518 strikes adding that 40 pieces of armored vehicles, 106 cars with large-caliber machine guns were also destroyed.

“This month, aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces has carried out 990 combat flights. 2,518 aviation strikes have been made on command centres, positions, storages, transfer bases and camps of insurgents. 40 pieces of armored vehicles, 106 cars with large-caliber machine guns and up to 800 terrorists have been eliminated”, he said.

According to him, the Aleppo province has been completely liberated from terrorists and that 50 inhabited areas and more than 2,700 square kilometers have been liberated from insurgents.

“As a result of the government troops’ strike on directions to al-Sawwanet, a large grouping of ISIS terrorists have been encircled near Uqayribat. Actions aimed to tighten the encirclement are being held. The Uqayribat town will be liberated in the near future”, he said.

He explained that a group of the government troops operating to the east from Palmyra has taken al-Sukhnah under its control and continues its offensive on Deir ez-Zor.

“In order to eliminate terrorists, which had been encircled and taking efforts to leave for Deir ez-Zor, flight intensity of the Russian aviation has been increased to 60-70 flights a day. Twenty-four hours a day, the Russian Aerospace Forces conduct reconnaissance operation in order to detect and eliminate armored hardware, pick-ups with heave armament, and automobile convoys with munitions of the ISIS. Within last 5 days, Russian aircraft have performed 316 flights and 819 strikes”, he said, adding that elimination of the last stronghold of terrorists near Deir ez-Zor is the main goal.