On August 21, a senior Russian military commander stated that Russian forces and the army of Bashar al-Assad have made significant progress against the group known as the Islamic State in central and eastern Syria over the past months. General Sergey Rudskoy, head of the operational department of the Russian General Staff, told reporters that in the past month, Russian fighter jets have eliminated about 800 Islamist militants. According to General Rudskoy, Russian military aircraft conduct between 60 to 70 flights daily to prevent ISIS fighters from other regions from joining militants in Deir ez-Zor. This Russian military official added that Syrian army forces have broken the siege of Deir ez-Zor from three sides and have entered this key area controlled by ISIS in eastern Syria, currently holding half of the city and an airbase nearby. Hours before Rudskoy's statements, Russian news agencies reported that Russian fighter jets targeted a large column of ISIS militants heading towards the city of Deir ez-Zor, killing over 200. Reports indicate that after being pushed out of southern Raqqa province and western Homs province due to Russian airstrikes and the ground advance of Syrian government forces, most of ISIS's personnel have been stationed in Deir ez-Zor. Rudskoy told reporters, 'The goal is to destroy the last major base of terrorists in the Deir ez-Zor area.' He also stated that 'significant changes' have occurred in central Syria, and government forces have regained control of all of Aleppo province from ISIS fighters. The Russian commander noted that the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria, which was planned during the Astana negotiations with Iran and Turkey, has allowed Moscow to focus more on the battles against ISIS. The Syrian civil war has been ongoing for more than six years. Various reports suggest that between 370,000 to half a million people have been killed during these years, and half of the country's population is displaced.
Russia Reports Major Advances Against ISIS in Central and Eastern Syria
Russia has reported significant military successes against ISIS in Syria, claiming to have killed around 800 militants in recent months. This military operation involves both Russian forces and the Syrian army, with a focus on regaining control of key areas like Deir ez-Zor. The ongoing conflict has resulted in massive casualties and displacement, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Russia has reported significant military successes against ISIS in Syria, claiming to have killed around 800 militants in recent months. The Russian and Syrian forces are focusing on regaining control of key areas like Deir ez-Zor, which is crucial for ISIS's operations.
- Russian fighter jets conduct 60 to 70 flights daily against ISIS.
- Syrian forces have broken the siege of Deir ez-Zor and control half of the city.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Syrian civil war has been ongoing for over six years, leading to massive casualties and displacement, with various factions vying for control. Russia's involvement has significantly altered the conflict's dynamics.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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