MOSCOW, August 21. /TASS/. Russia’s planes in Syria have flown 316 sorties over the past five days to deal 819 strikes on terrorists of the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia), the chief of the main operations department of Russia’s General Staff, Sergey Rudskoy, told the media.

"To eliminate the encircled terrorists trying to retreat towards Deir ez-Zor the intensity of strikes by Russian aircraft was increased to 60-70 sorties a day. Russia’s Aerospace Force carries out air reconnaissance and eliminates IS armored vehicles, pickup trucks armed with heavy weapons and truck convoys carrying ammunition round the clock. Over the past five days Russian planes flew 316 sorties to deal 819 strikes," Colonel-General Rudskoy said. In all, Rudskoy said, Russia’s planes in August carried out 990 sorties. "A total of 2,518 air strikes were dealt against command centers, positions, warehouses and transit camps of terrorists. Forty armored vehicles, 106 trucks carrying heavy machineguns and up to 800 terrorists were destroyed," he said. "The operation to recapture central Syria from terrorists is nearing completion," Rudskoy stated. Aleppo Governorate fully liberated from terrorists Syria’s Aleppo Governorate has been fully liberated from terrorists, Rudskoi told reporters.

"The Aleppo Governorate has been fully liberated from terrorists," he said. According to Rudskoi, in the past month, the Syrian government troops, supported by the Russian Aerospace force, have achieved significant success, inflicting much damage on a large armed unit of the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia) in central Syria. "A total of 50 settlements and an area of more than 2,700 square kilometers have been cleared of militants," the Russian general said speaking about the liberation of the Aleppo Governorate. Akerbat city to be liberated shortly Syrian government troops will liberate the city of Akerbat in the near future, they encircled gunmen east of Itriya, Rudskoi said. "Following government forces’ strike, a large group of ISIL (former name of the Islamic State terror group) terrorists has been encircled near the city of Akerbat. Offensive operations continue to tighten the encirclement. The city of Akerbat will be liberated shortly. Militants have also been encircled east of Itriya," Rudskoi said.

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