Earlier today, Western media cited Syrian state television as reporting that Russian fighter jets had struck Islamic State (IS) militant targets in the ancient ruins of Palmyra, a 2,000-year-old city and registered UNESCO site.
"The Russian Air Force conducted surgical strikes yesterday in settlements near the city of Palmyra, and at a terrorist site 80 km from the city center," the source told RIA Novosti.
The Roman-era ruins have been under IS control since last May. The Syrian authorities claim to have evacuated civilians from the area, as well as the most precious antiquities. The IS jihadist group is notorious for destroying ancient relics and temples which it claims promote idolatry.
Russia’s Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets, Su-24M and Su-34 bombers commenced precision airstrikes against IS targets in Syria on September 30, following a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. All the airstrikes have been carried out based on intelligence collected by Russia and Syria, including during aerial reconnaissance missions.
