Russian Air Strikes Force Islamic State Retreat in Syria’s Palmyra: Monitor

(REUTERS) – Russian air strikes forced Islamic State fighters to retreat to the outskirts of Palmyra on Sunday, a day after they had stormed the ancient city in eastern Syria, a war monitor said.

The militants were now fighting in orchards on the fringe of Palmyra, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its jets had launched 64 strikes and killed more than 300 militants during the operation, backing up the Syrian army.

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