Syrian gov't troops, supported by Russian Aerospace Forces, advancing to Deir ez-Zor blocked by terrorists - Russian Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. Sept 2 (Interfax) - A group of the Syrian government forces, supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces, is continuing a successful offensive towards Deir ez-Zor in order to unblock the city, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
"Militants of ISIL [outlawed in Russia] are continuing to attempt to stop the advance of the Syrian forces, deploying heavy armored vehicles, rough terrain vehicles with mounted large-caliber machine guns, weapons and ammunition to the area of Deir ez-Zor, as well as creating new strongholds with artillery and mortar sites," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The Russian aviation is destroying newly identified targets, such as armored vehicles, ammunition depots and artillery sites, day and night, it said.
"Russian aircraft destroyed nine items of armored vehicles, including two tanks, six artillery sites, one makeshift multiple-launch rocket system, three ammunition depots, a command post, as well as over 20 cargo vehicles carrying fuel, weapons and ammunition, in the past two days," it said.
"Thanks to the effective actions of the Russian Aerospace Forces, the Syrian government troops continue tightening the circle around the ISIL grouping near Uqayribat in the Hama province," the statement said.
Russia's Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft destroy newly detected ISIL targets from the air, the ministry said. The time between target detection and destruction is several minutes.
"A large column of 12 ISIL trucks, carrying weapons and ammunition, and all-terrain vehicles with mounted large-caliber machineguns, antiaircraft weapons and mortars was destroyed on a stretch of road between Deir ez-Zor and Rasafe," the statement said.
"Crushing of ISIL in the area of Deir ez-Zor and unblocking of the city will become a strategic defeat of the international terrorist group in Syria," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
