Russia Expects Syrian Army to Shortly Retake Palmyra - Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed hope on Friday for the Syrian army's operation to retake Palmyra with Russian air support to conclude shortly.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported that the Syrian army and the Desert Falcons militia commenced an assault on the ancient citadel of Palmyra.

"We count on the operation that is currently being conducted by the Syrian army with Russian air support on liberating Palmyra to successfully conclude within the shortest time period," Lavrov told reporters after holding talks with his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni.

"Our common stance is that fulfilling the UN Security Council-approved measures on comprehensive Syrian crisis settlement should not mean reducing attention devoted to the fight against terrorism," he added.

On Thursday, army and militia consolidated their positions on the territory of the hotel complex in southeastern Palmyra after a joint operation to gain control of strategic heights surrounding the historic city.

Palmyra has been under Daesh control since May 2015. The terrorist group has since destroyed part of the city, which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

A brigadier-general told Sputnik on Wednesday that the Syrian army had recaptured a historic part of the city from the militants.