Over
4,000 Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists, reinforced
by tanks, have started an offensive to retake the key Syrian city of
Palmyra after regrouping themselves, the Russian Center for
Reconciliation in Syria says. According to the Russian military, the
terrorists have received considerable reinforcement, including heavy
military hardware from the regions of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor.
“IS
has dispatched a considerable force to Palmyra from the area of
Raqqa, where militants, backed by the US and the international
coalition ceased combat action against the terrorists this week,”
the statement by the Russian military says. The Reconciliation Center
notes that the Syrian Army is engaged in fighting the jihadists.
“Despite
heavy losses in manpower and [military] hardware, the terrorists seek
to come as close as possible and gain a foothold in the city, as the
Russian Air Force is not conducting airstrikes against residential
areas in the city of Palmyra,” the statement reads.
Palmyra
was seized by IS in 2015, however in March this year Syrian
government forces, backed by Russian air support, managed to liberate
the city.
Overnight
Saturday, the Syrian Army, backed by Russian air strikes, managed to
repel several attacks on Palmyra, killing up to 300 jihadists, the
Russian Defense Ministry said.
Also
on Saturday, terrorists reportedly entered some of Palmyra’s
districts forcing the Syrian troops to withdraw from some of their
positions. According to AP, citing the activist-run Palmyra
Coordination network, jihadists gained footholds in the northern and
northwestern districts of Palmyra.
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