Russia says air force hit Palmyra region in Syria

Russia's air force has struck the area around the Islamic State-held ancient city of Palmyra, the defence ministry said Monday, as Moscow pressed on with its bombing campaign in Syria.

"Su-25 jets hit a fortified IS position in the Tadmur area of Homs province," Moscow's defence ministry said in a statement, using the Arabic name for Palmyra.

"As a result of a direct strike, a fortification, an underground bunker and anti-aircraft artillery were destroyed."

It appeared to be the first time that Russia has confirmed a strike close to the UNESCO World Heritage site, after Moscow denied Syrian state television claims that it hit the ancient city in early October.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also said that Russian planes had targeted Palmyra with strikes on Monday.

He said several strikes hit the city's historic citadel, but had no further details.

Khaled al-Homsi, an activist from Palmyra, also reported Russian strikes on the citadel on the western edges of the historical site.

"The extent of the damage could not be verified," he told AFP...
  AFP
i24news.tv
2/11/15
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