Russian special forces officer surrounded by Isis calls in airstrikes on himself near Palmyra, Syria

'The officer died as a hero, he drew fire onto himself after being located and surrounded by terrorists'

 

A Russian special forces officer has been killed near Palmyra in Syria after directing airstrikes to his location when he became surrounded by Isis fighters, a military representative at Russia's base in Syria has said.

The officer was said to have been identifying major targets in the area and providing coordinates to Russian aircraft. The unnamed official at the Khmeimim base in Syria told Interfax that the officer died in the line of duty after he was spotted by Isis militants and surrounded.

"An officer of Russian special operations forces was killed near Palmyra while carrying out a special task to direct Russian airstrikes at Islamic State group targets," the spokesperson said.

"The officer was carrying out a combat task in Palmyra area for a week, identifying crucial IS targets and passing exact coordinates for strikes with Russian planes.

"The officer died as a hero, he drew fire onto himself after being located and surrounded by terrorists."

The date of the incident was not revealed. Last week Isis-linked media claimed that five Russian special forces officers were killed near Palmyra.

Isis has destroyed many of the ancient ruins near the city. UNESCO denounced the destruction as a war crime.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow expects the operation to retake Palmyra from Isis to be successfully concluded soon.

A Russian special forces officer has been killed near Palmyra in Syria after directing airstrikes to his location when he became surrounded by Isis fighters, a military representative at Russia's base in Syria has said.

The officer was said to have been identifying major targets in the area and providing coordinates to Russian aircraft. The unnamed official at the Khmeimim base in Syria told Interfax that the officer died in the line of duty after he was spotted by Isis militants and surrounded.

"An officer of Russian special operations forces was killed near Palmyra while carrying out a special task to direct Russian airstrikes at Islamic State group targets," the spokesperson said.

"The officer was carrying out a combat task in Palmyra area for a week, identifying crucial IS targets and passing exact coordinates for strikes with Russian planes.

"The officer died as a hero, he drew fire onto himself after being located and surrounded by terrorists."

The date of the incident was not revealed. Last week Isis-linked media claimed that five Russian special forces officers were killed near Palmyra.

Isis has destroyed many of the ancient ruins near the city. UNESCO denounced the destruction as a war crime.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow expects the operation to retake Palmyra from Isis to be successfully concluded soon.