Battle to break ISIS siege of Kweires airbase

As a result of the push by Syrian government troops, with the help of Russian airstrikes and local irregular forces, more than 900 militants were killed near the village of Telmam in Aleppo province. Intelligence regarding the locations of the terrorists’ positions around the base was partially provided by the Syrian opposition, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Syrian Army and Armed Forces added that new progress in the war against Islamist militants was being made in the Latakia and Aleppo provinces. The Syrian Air Force carried out 75 sorties that destroyed 150 targets across the country.

In Aleppo province where the combat footage was filmed, the spokesman said that army units, aside from establishing control over Kweires airbase after “heavy fighting,” are now also in control of more than 250 square kilometers of the surrounding area.

According to the spokesman, the Syrian Air Force targeted three Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) sites in the Aleppo countryside in addition to “fortified sites” belonging to Al-Nusra Front.

The government forces have made rapid advances against jihadist groups over the past six weeks following the start of Moscow’s air campaign. Russia has carried out over 1,600 sorties since establishing an airbase in northern Syria in September at the personal request of Syrian president Bashar Assad, who has been battling the Islamic jihadists since 2011.