Russian airstrikes take out 80 ISIS fighters and dozens of their vehicles heading from Raqqa for Palmyra

Moscow – In the framework of its war on the Takfiri terrorism in Syria upon the request of the Syrian government, Russian jets destroyed more than 60 vehicles, some equipped with machineguns attempting to escape Raqqa city and roll towards Palmyra, SANA reported.

 Dozens of vehicles carrying heavy weaponry manned by over 80 terrorists were hit.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a Thursday statement that more than 80 ISIS terrorists were killed, 8 fuel trucks, 53 vehicles and 17 machineguns-equipped pickups were destroyed while they were attempting to leave Raqqa on Monday night.

 The statement clarified that the airstrikes were called in after the movements were spotted by reconnaissance units.

The Ministry said that the Command of the Russian Forces operating in Syria will do their best to prevent ISIS militants from breaking into the provinces of Homs and Hama, adding that the Russian task force in Syria has warned that any attempts by ISIS militants to escape Raqqa through an open corridor towards Palmyra will be met with coercive force.

The statement pointed out that the Russian air forces foiled, during a week, two attempts by ISIS terrorists to leave Raqqa, asserting that on May 25, the Russian forces managed to destroy a terrorist convoy which was heading for Palmyra from Raqqa.

The Ministry said that ISIS terrorist cross the Euphrates River to leave Raqqa despite that they are encircled by the Qasad groups and the US, French and British forces.

On Wednesday, the Russian Navy fired four Kalibr cruise missiles from the eastern Mediterranean that targeted terrorist compounds east of Palmyra.

The missile strike decimated ISIS positions near the city, the Defense Ministry said.