Syrian soldiers repelled the is attack on Palmyra
Militants “Islamic State” for three days, came to Palmyra and took the North-Western part of the city. The Syrian army almost immediately replaced the Islamists, however, according to interlocutors “Газеты.Ru” it cannot be regarded as a victory.
The Syrian army and fighters of the militia drove the militants of banned terrorist group “Islamic state” of Palmyra, reported RIA “Novosti” citing a source in the Syrian national militia. Thus, according to the Agency, fighting continues on the outskirts of the city on the heights of Al-tar, and from oil and gas fields of Al-Shaer and Gazal.
Air and space forces Russia used to support attacks against the militants strategic bombers Tu-22M3 and more than 20 combat helicopters.”Interfax” with reference to Arab Agency, “al-Masdar”
According to the publication, at the height of Jabal al-Thar and elevators Palmyra, captured on Saturday by terrorists, was also struck with cruise missiles “Caliber”.
“Aircraft of Russian air force during the night struck 64 air strike on clusters, the positions of the columns and sliding the reserves of fighters. Destroyed 11 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, 31 equipped with heavy machine guns car, more than 300 fighters”, — reported in the Ministry of defense of Russia.
On Saturday evening the “bi-bi-Bi” reported that the militants again entered freed from them almost nine months ago Palmyra and took the North-Western part of the city.
“Fighting with the army are also at the heart of the city”, — said the TV channel the representative of the British-based Center for monitoring the observance of human rights in Syria, Rami Abdel Rahman.
The militants began earlier this week and lasted three days.
The organization Palmyra coordination Collective reported that during this time, the jihadists seized the city’s ammunition depot and the oil fields and the strategically important heights, which was occupied by government troops near the city.
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In the first place, this sudden seizure of needed fighters to strike a blow to the image of the Syrian army, says the head of the research Department of middle East conflicts of the Institute of innovative development Anton Mardas.
“Fifteen hundred fighters took the city in three days, despite the fact that the security of Palmyra provide, according to preliminary data, a total of about 5 thousand people. Reports that the army cap has beaten fighters that look controversial, given that they were not going to hold on to Palmyra,” said Mardas.
He noted that almost all the terrorists take a defensive position: and background — to motivate their soldiers to new attacks — they needed a quick success.
Just today, the Kurds are planning a new offensive in Raqqa and Deir-ez – Zor, and, therefore, their fighters will have to defend, the expert reminded.
Another reason why the fighters again entered the city — replenishment of ammunition.
“Usually they work in small groups of 10-15 people. Came in, cleaned out the warehouses and left to wait in the catacombs and underground shelters of the bombing. Everything went as planned,” said Mardas.
Palmyra was under the control of Islamic State since mid-may 2015. A year later, the army of Syria with the support of the Russian aviation for two weeks — from 13 to 27 March — drove the militants out of the city.
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Also in the fighting for the liberation of Palmyra was attended by Russian soldiers of special operations Forces and volunteers from private military companies. Widely known was the story of the death of Lieutenant Alexander Prokhorenko, who, correcting the fire of aircraft and artillery, were surrounded by militants and called “fire”.
Vladimir Putin awarded Prokhorenko posthumous title of Hero of Russia.
In early November it became known that during the operation, also died the assistant to the Deputy of the state Duma from LDPR Mikhail Degtyarev, Russian Sergey Morozov. In Syria he fought as part of the private military company known as the “Wagner group,” claimed Reuters.
In may 2016, the defense Ministry announced the end of demining operations. In October, 47 Russian sappers have received state awards.
A month and a half in an architectural-historic Palmyra, a residential area and the area of the local airport was cleared of 825 hectares, 79 km of roads, more than 8,500 buildings and structures.The defense Ministry
In addition, according to the Agency, was “discovered and destroyed 17 456 explosive objects, including 432 improvised explosive device.”