BEIRUT // At least 38 ISIL fighters were killed in air strikes by the Assad regime against three towns in central Syria.
Monday’s strikes hit Palmyra and two other towns in Homs province, Rami Abdel Rahman, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director said on Tuesday.
The Syrian air force has been increasing its strikes against ISIL in recent days as it received reinforcements from Russia, he said.
“The number of raids is growing and the strikes are more precise after the Syrian air force received arms and more efficient planes from Moscow,” said Mr Abdel Rahman, whose group relies on broad network of civilian, military and medical sources inside Syria.
Experts close to the regime said Russia has sent advisers to train Syrian troops in the new weapons, in particular short-range air defence systems and tanks.
US military officials on Monday said Russia had deployed 28 combat planes in Syria, in the latest move in Moscow’s increasing military presence in the country.
In recent weeks, Washington has expressed growing concern over Russia’s moves to support Syrian president Bashar Al Assad and warned that military backing for his regime risks further hampering efforts at bringing peace.
Moscow has been on a diplomatic push to get the coalition of western and regional powers fighting ISIL in Syria to join forces with Mr Assad against the militants.
* Agence France-Presse
