Syrian government forces have reached the bank of Euphrates River east of Khafsah for the first time in four years, maintaining control of a nine-mile coastline, the Russian General Staff said on Friday.
“For the first time in four years, government forces have managed to reach the bank of the Euphrates River east of Khafsah. Fifteen kilometers of riverside is under their control,” Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi, the chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate, was quoted as saying by Sputnik.
He said the Syrian Army continues to advance east of Palmyra and extending the security zone to its north and south a week after liberating the city from terrorists.
“After taking control of the city of Palmyra, the Syrian government troops continue their offensive east of the city and, capturing dominant heights, extend the security zone to the north and south,” Rudskoi said.
On March 2, the Syrian government forces regained control over Palmyra with the support of the Russian aircraft operating in Syria. The operation was carried out with minimal losses among the anti-terrorist troops.
The city was occupied by IS in May 2015 and was under the control of terrorists until March 2016, when the Syrian Army supported by Russia’s Aerospace Forces liberated it. However, the militants later succeeded in driving out the Syrian government forces in December 2016 after a large-scale offensive.
Nearly 200 Russian engineers and 32 pieces of equipment have arrived in Palmyra to begin mine clearance operations, according to the military official.
“The first unit of the Russian Armed Forces International Mine Action Center has arrived in Syria for mine clearance of areas liberated from terrorists in Palmyra,” Rudskoi said, adding that the unit comprises 187 troops and 32 special equipment.
