Russian Warplanes Hammer ISIS Hideout In Central Syria Amid Reports Of Near Ground Operation

Russian Su-25 attack aircraft take off from the Khmeimim airbase in Syria © Dmitriy Vinogradov / Sputnik

On January 2, a new wave of Russian airstrikes targeted Syria’s vast central region where ISIS is still present and active.

According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 15 airstrikes targeted hideouts of the terrorist group in the eastern Homs countryside, the western countryside of Deir Ezzor as well as in the Hama-Aleppo-Raqqa triangle.

A day earlier, at least 25 Russian airstrikes targeted hideouts of ISIS near the town of Ithriyah in the eastern Hama countryside and in the vicinity of the town of Tabqa in the southern countryside of Raqqa.

A report by the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper revealed that the recent Russian airstrikes on central Syria were a part of ongoing perpetrations for a near large-scale operation against ISIS cells in the region. Russian forces will supposedly command the operation.

Both Syrian Arab Army (SAA) 5^th Corps and the Palestinian al-Quds Brigade deployed large reinforcement in the eastern Homs countryside to support the operation. Russia also deployed several attack helicopters at Palmyra Air Base.

The upcoming operation will mainly target ISIS cells taking shelter between Palmyra and the town of al-Sukhnah to the east, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

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