First Russian sappers begin demining Palmyra
The Russian military has begun their demining phase inside the recently liberated city of Palmyra (Tadmur), clearing over 1,000 explosives planted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) before their massive retreat to nearby ‘Arak and Al-Sukhanah. The Syrian government has prohibited civilians from returning to Palmyra until the Russian military concludes their demining operations. Currently, the Islamic State militants that fled Palmyra are awaiting the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) next attack, which will target the two terrorist controlled villages of Al-Sukhanah and ‘Arak. Before the Syrian Armed Forces progress east, they plan to retake the ancient Assyrian city of Quraytayn in order to eliminate the ISIS threat in southeastern Homs.
