Russian Bomb Squad Clears 158 Mines in Syria's Palmyra in Past 24 Hours

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian bomb squad has demined 12 hectares in the historical part of Syria's ancient city of Palmyra in the past 24 hours, clearing a total of 158 explosive devices, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

"The specialists from the Russian mine-clearing group continued demining the ancient monuments and infrastructure in Palmyra. In the past 24 hours, the Russian sappers have cleared 12 hectares in the historical part of the city, destroying 158 explosive devices," the ministry said in a daily bulletin posted on its website.

Moreover, a total of 58 settlements and 47 armed groups have joined the ceasefire regime in Syria, the Russian reconciliation center in Syria said.

"The number of settlements that have joined the ceasefire has reached 58… The number of illegal armed groups that have declared their commitment to the ceasefire has reached 47," the reconciliation center said in an update published on the Russian Defense Ministry's website.

However, a total of five violations of the ceasefire regime in four Syrian provinces were registered in the last 24 hours.

"The cessation of hostilities in Syria has been respected in general. However, a total of five violations of the ceasefire regime have been registered including two in the Latakia province, and one each in the Daraa, Homs and Damascus provinces," the ministry said in a daily bulletin posted on its website.