At Least 150 Russian Troops Deployed In Syria For Demining Palmyra

The Russian defense ministry announced that more than 150 engineers and 17 pieces of equipment have been sent to Syria for demining operations in Palmyra.

More than 150 Russian engineers and 17 pieces of equipment have been deployed in Syria for mine clearance operations in Palmyra, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"The personnel, military equipment and property of the International Mine Action Center of the Russian Armed Forces were promptly deployed by military transport aviation aircraft from Chkalovsky airfield (Moscow Region) to Hmeimim air base (Syria)," the ministry said.

The units then performed a mounted march and embarked on the demining process focusing on roads leading to social infrastructure and heritage sites, the ministry said.

Apart from the sapper units, the detachment included a unit with mine detection dogs.

On March 2, the Syrian government forces regained control over Palmyra. The operation was carried out with minimal losses among the anti-terrorist troops.

The ISIL terrorists had taken hold of Palmyra, one of the most important centers of ancient civilization in the world, in May 2015 and held the city until March 2016, when the Syrian army and its allies liberated it.

However, the terrorists later occupied certain parts of Palmyra in December 2016 after a large-scale offensive and the Syrian forces are still fighting against the militants in the region to fully regain the ancient city.