The Russian Ministry of Defense has awarded several Syrian soldiers from the elite Tiger Forces for their ‘priceless courage and participation in liberating Palmyra”.

The Syrian Armed Forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, ousted ISIS from the Syrian desert city of Palmyra in late Mach 2016.

A Russian special forces officer who was guiding the Russian airstrikes has been killed in the battle. Alexander Prokhorenko infiltrated deep behind enemy lines, providing coordinates and intelligence for the Russian fighter jets. Once spotted and surrounded by the jihadis, he ordered his comrades to carry out an air strike on his position.

In November 2015, members of the Syrian Special Forces received medals for “Strengthen Comradeship-in-Arms” for rescuing the Russian co-pilot of the Su-24 bomber which was shot down by Turkish fighter jets near the Syria-Turkey borders.