MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed a large Daesh terrorist group convoy that had been heading towards Syrian Deir ez-Zor.
"In August, 990 sorties were flown by the Russian Aerospace Forces, 2,518 airstrikes performed on command posts, positions, warehouses, supply terminals and militant camps," Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, the chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate, said.
Up to 800 terrorists were killed, and 106 vehicles with mounted machines guns were destroyed alongside 40 armored vehicles this month, he added.
"Over the past five days, Russian aircraft made 316 sorties and made 819 strikes," Rudskoy said.
Meanwhile, the Syrian government forces were advancing at a rate of 30-40 kmh (18.64-24.85 mph) per day, he stated.
Syrian government forces have started implementing new combat methods against terror groups, Rudskoy pointed out, recalling that the Syrian military, supported by Russian jets, had carried out a unique troops landing operation behind Daesh defense lines.
The abruptness and swiftness of the descending units, as well as the efficiency of shelling by the Syrian artillery and Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters, allowed government troops to rapidly approach a Daesh-held settlement in the area and gain control over the location without losses, Rudskoy explained.
"Daesh formations in this region are totally diminished," the military official pointed out.
On August 12, Syrian paratroopers were deployed behind Daesh's positions in 20 km from the battlefront; the operation resulted in the liberation of the town of al-Hadar located on the border between Raqqa and Homs provinces. The development paves the way for the operation to free besieged Deir ez-Zor.