Two Russian soldiers were killed Monday by the shelling of the Islamic State (IS) near Syria’s eastern city of Deir al-Zour, local media said.
The slain Russian soldiers were killed as IS was shelling on the Syrian forces and allied fighters who were advancing to break the IS siege on Deir al-Zour, local media cited Russia’s Defense Ministry as saying.
Russia has been heavily backing the Syrian government forces in their push toward Deir al-Zour, a key IS bastion near the Iraqi border.
This comes as the Syrian army and allied fighters became within three kilometers of breaking through the IS siege on Deir al-Zour.
The advancing Syrian forces are approaching the Brigade 137 base, and if the army reach this base they will be able to lift the siege that has been in place since 2015.
The IS militants planted mines around the area to keep the army from advancing, activists said, adding that the terror-designated group detonated eight car bombs to prevent the army forces from advancing.
Also, the IS detonated a booby-trapped vehicle in the town of Naimeh in the eastern countryside of Homs province, targeting a Syrian military post, killing many soldiers, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.