Page 9 - Aruba Today
P. 9
WORLD NEWS 9
Saturday 19 March 2016
Syrian troops push toward Palmyra, with Russian support
BASSEM MROUE doubts, saying the Rus-
JAMEY KEATEN
Associated Press sians have conducted no
BEIRUT (AP) — Backed
by Russian aircraft, Syrian airstrikes in the last several
troops pushed Friday to-
ward the historic central days but that the Syrian re-
town of Palmyra in an of-
fensive to recapture it from gime has done so.
the Islamic State group
whose fighters have dam- U.S. Air Force Col. Pat Ry-
aged some of the world’s
most precious archaeolog- der said the U.S. military has
ical sites since they overran
the town last May. seen the Russians launch-
After night fell, Syria’s state
news agency SANA re- ing artillery strikes instead.
ported that the offensive
advanced toward Pal- “We assess that those
myra and that scores of IS
fighters have been killed strikes near Palmyra and
or wounded in Syrian artil-
lery fire near the town. The elsewhere were from Rus-
reports gave no casualty
numbers or other details. sian artillery,” Ryder said.
Activists who monitor the
Syrian conflict reported in- “They (Russians) still have
tense airstrikes in Palmyra
and its suburbs. In Moscow, helicopters and some
a Russian Defense Ministry
official confirmed his coun- transport aircraft, but what
try’s warplanes in Syria
were flying in support of the we’ve seen is that the ma-
Syrian offensive.
Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi said jority of Russian strike air-
Russian aircraft were con-
ducting 20-25 sorties a day craft have left Syria.”
in support of the Palmyra
offensive, If the Syrian army and its al-
even though Russia this
week drew down its mili- lies capture Palmyra,
tary presence in Syria after
President Vladimir Putin or- in the central province of Russian air force pilots, assisted by ground crew, climb into their fighter jet at Hemeimeem air-
dered a partial pullout of base, Syria. Backed by Russian aircraft, Syrian troops pushed Friday toward the historic central
Russian aircraft and forces Homs, it would be a major town of Palmyra in an offensive to recapture it from the Islamic State group
from Syria, in support of the
Geneva peace talks. victory against IS militants (AP Photo/Vladimir Isachenkov)
The U.N.-brokered talks be-
tween representatives of in Syria.
the Syrian government and
the Western-backed op- “If the regime keeps the
position adjourned for the
weekend after five days of current momentum of its
proximity discussions.
Though Rudskoi’s state- offensive, they can take
ments indicated that Rus-
sian aircraft supporting the Palmyra within days,” said
Palmyra offensive were
carrying out airstrikes, U.S. Turkey-based activist Osa-
military officials raised
ma al-Khatib,
who is originally from Pal-
myra. IS has built strong
defenses in the town, in-
cluding trenches around
it, taking advantage of
sandstorm earlier this week
to launch counter attacks,
said al-Khatib, speaking
over the phone.
He said Syrian government
forces were now about 10
kilometers (six miles) from
the town.
According to two activist
groups, the Britain-based
Syrian Observatory for Hu-
man Rights and the Local
Coordination Committees,
warplanes conducted
more than a dozen air-
strikes since Friday morn-
ing. The Observatory said
troops were slowly advanc-
ing toward Palmyra, add-
ing that both sides were
bringing in reinforcements.
It said there were casual-
ties on both sides but did
not give any figures.
