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Russian airstrikes kill 100 terrorists in Syria

Saturday, 26 March 2016 5:55 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 26 March 2016 6:14 PM ]

Syrian forces rest on the outskirts of Palmyra on March 26, 2016, during a military operation to retake the ancient city from the Daesh terrorist group. (AFP photo)

Russia says its fighter jets have conducted 158 air raids against terrorist targets in Syria's central province of Homs over the past 24 hours, leaving at least 100 Takfiri militants dead.

The Russian center for reconciliation of the warring sides in Syria said Russian Aerospace Forces made 40 sorties near the ancient city of Palmyra in Homs over the past 24 hours.

"Strikes were carried out on 158 terrorist targets, resulting in 100 militants killed,” the website of the Russian Defense Ministry quoted the center as saying.

“Four tanks, three artillery mounts, four ammo storage depots and five motor vehicles” were also destroyed in the air attacks, according to the center.

The news comes as Syrian forces have gained more grounds against the Daesh Takfiri militants in their battle around Palmyra.

The troops managed to recapture the town of al-Amiriyah, which is located on the northern outskirts of Palmyra, on Saturday following fierce clashes with Daesh terrorists.

The historic city fell to Daesh last May. The Syrian army and allied forces kicked off an assault earlier this month to take it back.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Saturday that Syrian forces that are backed by airstrikes and artillery fire have so far retaken one-third of Palmyra mainly in the west and north of the city.

The fall of the city raised global concern as the terrorists have blown up Palmyra’s UNESCO-listed temples and looted relics that dated back thousands of years.

The liberation of Palmyra would cause eastern Syria to open up to the army and deal a heavy blow to Daesh terrorists who are in control of most of the two provinces of Dayr al-Zawr and Raqqah in the east.

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