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Syrian armed forces launch large-scale offensive against ISIS – Syrian General Staff

October 8, 2015

Syrian armed forces launch large-scale offensive against ISIS – Syrian General Staff

Published time: 8 Oct, 2015 07:13

Edited time: 8 Oct, 2015 12:52

Source: Syrian armed forces launch large-scale offensive against ISIS – Syrian General Staff — RT News

Multiple rocket launchers Grad fire at positions of ISIS militants near the border between Homs and Hama Governorates, Syria. © Michael Alaeddin
Multiple rocket launchers Grad fire at positions of ISIS militants near the border between Homs and Hama Governorates, Syria. © Michael Alaeddin / RIA Novosti
The Syrian Army announced a large-scale offensive aimed at retaking several key cities and regions from terrorist forces after a week-long bombing campaign by Russia targeting the jihadists.
TrendsRussian anti-terror op in Syria

The government forces “have been keeping the initiative for several years,” said General Ali Abdullah Ayyoub, the head of the Syrian General Staff, announcing the offensive. The offensive was made possible by the effort made by Russia in supporting the Syrian government militarily, Ayyoub said.

“The airstrikes of the Russian Air Force have damaged the capabilities of the international terrorist organization Islamic State and other groups,” the general said.

READ MORE: Less talk, more action: Russian jets destroy ISIS HQs, tanks, munition depots – all in just 1 week

Russian warplanes began attacking terrorist targets in Syria last week, hitting over 100 targets throughout the country. According to Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, Russia “has produced significant results in several days that greatly surpass those achieved by the [US-led anti-ISIS] coalition in over a year.”

Earlier, local media reported that government forces were deployed in several Syrian provinces with the biggest operation taking place in Hama, 200 kilometers north of the capital, Damascus. Lebanese TV channel Al-Manar said the Syrian army group in Hama advanced some 50 kilometers on Wednesday, taking several towns and strategically important mountain strongholds from militants of the Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, and other terrorist groups operating in the area.

Syrian government forces also went on the offensive in the Idlib province.

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Russian Air Force destroys 20 ISIS tanks near Palmyra

October 6, 2015

Russian Air Force destroys 20 ISIS tanks near Palmyra – Defense Ministry (VIDEOS)

Published time: 5 Oct, 2015 21:23

Edited time: 6 Oct, 2015 11:51

Source: Russian Air Force destroys 20 ISIS tanks near Palmyra – Defense Ministry (VIDEOS) — RT News

Russian pilots prepared to board the SU-30 attack plane to take off from the Hmeimim aerodrome in Syria. © Dmitriy Vinogradov
Russian pilots prepared to board the SU-30 attack plane to take off from the Hmeimim aerodrome in Syria. © Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
Russia’s Sukhoi jets flew 15 sorties over Syria on Monday striking 10 Islamic State targets in various regions, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. 20 tanks and 3 rocket launchers in Homs province near embattled Palmyra were destroyed,

“During the day, Sukhoi-34, Sukhoi-24M and Sukhoi-25 warplanes flew a total of 15 sorties from the Khmeimim airbase. Air strikes were delivered at ten targets of the Islamic State [IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL] group in Syria,” Igor Konashenkov, Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman said in a statement on Monday.

A pair of Su-25Ms (NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) together with an Su-24 (NATO reporting name: Fencer) carried out strikes on two IS targets in the eastern part of Homs province near the city of Tadmur, he said.

“About 20 units of medium T-55 tanks, which were earlier seized by the militants from the Syrian army, have been destroyed [in the strikes],” as well as three multiple rocket launchers, he noted.

A video released by the ministry also showed a strike against an IS ammunition depot in Homs. The ministry explained: “Bright flashes confirm detonation of munitions caused by direct hits of air bombs. Thick smoke provides evidence of fire in the depot.”

The city Tadmur is located in an oasis in the middle of the Syrian Desert and stands about half a kilometer northeast of the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra. The UNESCO protected cultural site was captured by IS in May. They have been gradually destroying archeological artifacts and structures since seizing the ancient city. On Sunday they blew up the Arch of Triumph, a centerpiece of the ancient ruins.

READ MORE: ISIS terrorists blow up iconic 2,000yo Arch of Triumph in Palmyra  

US Central Command reported on Monday that the US-led coalition had conducted airstrikes near Palmyra with “inconclusive results.”

Russian Su-34 bombers destroyed IS headquarters and a command post in the Aleppo province, Konashenkov said on Monday, adding that there had been “direct hits” on structures housing field commanders in Dayr Hafir and al-Bab.

Some 30 IS military vehicles including tanks were destroyed in the forested area near the city of Idlib in northwest Syria, according to the ministry.

“We have irrefutable intelligence, including [intercepted] communications between the militants in the area, [proving] the destruction and damage of the terrorists’ armored vehicles,” Konashenkov said.

Russia launched its anti-IS operation in Syria on September 30 after a request from President Bashar Assad. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also expressed concern about the number of Russian extremists in the country.

On Saturday, three days into the operation, Russia’s Defense Ministry said that, based on Russian intelligence, the militants were fleeing the area which had been under their control. It also stated that the strikes have significantly reduced the terrorists’ combat capabilities.

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