Syrian army received essential help to defeat ISIS armed groups in Palmyra

RT
Fri, 18 Mar 2016 15:09 UTC

© Mikhail Voskresenskiy / Sputnik

All conditions are in place to surround and defeat Islamic State (IS, former ISIS/ISIL) in Palmyra, Syria, Sergey Rudskoy, chief of the main operations department of the Russian General Staff, told reporters. "Everything necessary has been provided for the encirclement and definitive defeat of IS armed groups in Palmyra," Rudskoy said, adding that the Syrian Army had already taken control over all dominant heights and major roads around the city. The terrorists' logistical support has also been cut off.

The Syrian army and patriotic opposition fighters, backed by the Russian Air Force, are conducting a large-scale operation to liberate the city. The Russian Air Force make an average of 20-25 sorties per day lending support to the operation aimed at liberating Palmyra, the spokesman said, stressing that Russia will continue to carry out airstrikes targeting IS and Al Nusra Front in Syria. Last week, Syrian government forces and people's militia groups backed by Russian airstrikes managed to come close to the city. On Thursday, they reportedly entered the Palmyra museum complex.

Comment: From Day One (2011), the Islamist "freedom fighters" were supported, trained and equipped by NATO and Turkey's High Command:

(2011) NATO headquarters in Brussels and the Turkish high command are meanwhile drawing up plans for their first military step in Syria, which is to arm the rebels with weapons for combating the tanks and helicopters spearheading the Assad regime's crackdown on dissent. ... NATO strategists are thinking more in terms of pouring large quantities of anti-tank and anti-air rockets, mortars and heavy machine guns into the protest centers for beating back the government armored forces. (DEBKAfile, NATO to give rebels anti-tank weapons, August 14, 2011)