Russian war planes carried out over 60 strikes overnight on Syria’s Palmyra after ISIL Takfiri terrorists re-entered the famed ancient city, halting  the offensive, Russia’s defense ministry said Sunday.

“Russian air force planes carried out 64 air strikes against the positions, convoys and advancing reserves of militants,” a defense ministry statement said.

“Over the past night, Syrian government troops with active support of the Russian air force thwarted all terrorist attacks on Palmyra,” it said.

“The attacking militants actively used car bombs with suicide bombers, armored vehicles and rocket artillery,” it said, adding that the strikes killed more than 300 militants and destroyed 11 tanks and 31 vehicles.

On Saturday the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights monitor said ISIL militants, who were forced out of Palmyra in March, took most of the city back under their control and surrounded the airport.

Russia has carried out a bombing campaign in Syria under the request of the Syrian government since September 2015.

The liberation of Palmyra was hailed as a major victory, with Russian celebrities travelling there since March staging concerts and making public appearances.

Source: AFP